Mike Tyson Calls Himself 'Soft,' Says Bare-Knuckle Fighting 'Too Brutal' For Him

Mike Tyson has referred to himself as “soft” and said that bare-knuckle fighting is too brutal for him.

If there is one boxer in the world who could best describe the definition of incredible power, it would be a prime Tyson. Ever since he became the youngest heavyweight world champion, Tyson has KO’d his opponents night after night. Being regarded as “The Baddest Man on the Planet,” there is no doubt Tyson successfully instilled fear towards everybody he has faced inside the ring.

However, as he grew older, it appears that Tyson’s once fearsome image has somewhat diminished and a reinvented version of him has emerged. Though some in combat sports, especially the old generation, still view Tyson as the indestructible “Iron Mike,” he has repeatedly stated that he hated his old self.

During an interview with Mixed Combat Radio, Tyson was asked to comment about the rise of Bare-knuckle boxing, a new form of combat sports that has been legalized in United States.

According to Tyson he doesn’t really watch the said sport but he eventually will.

And when asked if he would be interested in getting involved with Bare-knuckle fighting business, the 53-year-old admitted that he’s not sure as it comes too brutal to him.

“I don’t know. It comes across too brutal to me, a little. I don’t know (maybe) I’m getting soft,” Tyson stated.

After Tyson called himself soft, the interviewer can’t help but tell him he wasn’t buying the boxer’s claim.

The new version of Tyson is evidently a complete opposite of his prime. He has been quite soft-spoken during interviews but still has that rawness in him.

Looking back, Tyson reflects to his boxing career and boxing as a sport as kind of toxic. In fact, during an interview with Sports Illustrated shortly after his 50^th birthday, the former heavyweight champ revealed that he likes watching UFC and MMA more than the sport he once dominated.

According to Tyson, UFC events are safer than boxing events and in MMA, everybody is just having fun.

“I don’t go to many fights. Periodically my wife likes to go to the UFC. It’s like a party there, so that’s awesome. It’s like a real safe party with your parents there. You can’t get too bombed. Everybody is laughing, having fun,” Tyson said.

“(In) boxing, everybody’s out for themselves, go for it. MMA, it’s pretty controlled,” Tyson added.