The wild life of Mike Tyson: from challenging a gorilla to taking acid at age 11
Mike Tyson’s life has been turbulent not only in the boxing ring but especially outside of it. The Sun recently highlighted some of the most outrageous stories from the boxing legend’s life.
Growing up in a troubled neighborhood took its toll. Tyson admitted in interviews that he began using illegal substances as early as 9 or 10 years old, and even tried acid by the age of 11.
In adulthood, Tyson took things even further — sometimes stepping into the ring while high. In his autobiography, "Iron Mike" revealed that before his 2000 fight against Lou Savarese, he had smoked marijuana and used cocaine.
But it wasn’t just drugs Tyson had to contend with; he also fought after receiving injections of antibiotics. His victory over Trevor Berbick in 1986 came despite him battling gonorrhea at the time.
"I looked at my underpants a day before the fight and I noticed a discharge. I had the clap. I didn't know if I had contracted it from a prostitute or a filthy young lady. I was given an antibiotic shot by a doctor. Because of the antibiotic shot, I was dripping like a Good Humor bar [ice cream] in July. But I didn't care; I was there to nail Berbick", Tyson candidly confessed.
Perhaps the wildest story involves Tyson’s plan to fight a gorilla at a zoo. He was willing to pay a zookeeper $10,000 to let him into the enclosure, but his request was firmly denied.
A reminder to fans: Mike Tyson’s highly anticipated fight against Jake Paul is set for November 15.
Yasmine Green
Dailysports's expert
Translated by the editors
