Throughout Mike Tyson’s boxing career, he has often been labeled a walking time bomb due to his seemingly violent and impulsive actions in and out of the rink. But for the first time ever, Mike Tyson spoke out about his childhood and it may offer clarity about his adult life and the turbulent past relationships he’s had with his exes.

Horrific Child Abuse:

According to New York Daily News, Tyson sat down for an interview with ESPN’s Jeremy Schapp where he shared details about his childhood. Tyson revealed he was a victim of sexual abuse as a child:

“Well I don’t like to talk about that, I like to keep that where it was in the past, but I was molested as a child,” Tyson said. “It was no one’s business to know, people just don’t talk about it because to some people they believe it’s demasculating them,” Tyson said. “I learned that it doesn’t make you any less of a man because it happened,” Tyson said.

Sharing Opinions:

Tyson also did a 2017 ESPN interview, appearing on Barstool Sports’ Pardon My Take podcast. That’s when he offered his opinion of the then upcoming boxing match between Floyd Mayweather and MMA fighter, Connor McGregor, which McGregor lost of course:

“McGregor is going to get killed boxing,” Tyson said. “I got mad because I thought they were going to use MMA rules against boxing because that’s what it’s all about: Can the boxer beat the MMA guy? McConor (sic) put his dumba– in a position where he’s gonna get knocked out because this guy’s been doing this all his life since he was a baby. McConor (sic) can’t kick and grab and stuff so he won’t stand much of a chance.”

As you can see, Tyson’s still got his outspoken opinions and magnetic personality that millions of fans have grown to love. It’s just sad that he had to endure the abuse he endured as a child, however it’s a beautiful to see that he didn’t allow the sick actions of his abuser to break his spirit, nor his will to attain a high level of greatness that very few people ever get to see.