“If You Didn’t F**k Me Up, You’re…”: Years After $430 Million Boxing Career, Mike Tyson Details His Intense Sparring Sessions

It is no secret. In his prime, while training, Mike Tyson used to push himself to the limit. Apart from propelling him into becoming one of the hardest hitters in the sport, the training regimen prepared his body and mind to receive frightful punishment. No wonder Mike Tyson reached the heights of the sport at such a young age, moved from one big bout to another, building his legacy, besides the over $400 million fortune. Countless sparring sessions were the go-to method to prepare for an upcoming fight. The more realistic it got, the better it was considered. In Hotboxin’s latest episode, Tyson relieved those days with Jorge Masvidal and DJ Whoo Kid.

So, around the half-hour mark, Mike Tyson explained the regimen from when he woke up at four in the morning. One of the reasons he got up so early was the mental edge it gave him over his competitors. He explained how running was one of the best exercises for the mind. After a few minutes, DJ Whoo Kid asked Masvidal whether, in comparison, he found Mike Tyson’s routine a bit more severe.

Inside the ring with Mike Tyson: His legacy and memorable sparring

‘Gamebred’ replied that in terms of hours, his regimen sounds similar to the one Mike Tyson followed. However, it also differed by adding items such as wrestling and grappling in his case. Mike Tyson said that the approach nowadays favored astuteness more than in his prime when the focus remained on numbers or repetitions. Masvidal asked whether the sparring sessions were tough.

So the youngest Heavyweight champion replied, “If you didn’t f**k me up, you’re fired. If you don’t kick my a** in here, you’re fired. That’s what it looks like, so let’s go for real. This is real. Now let’s go right. This is not sparring. It’s real. My trainer tells them this is real. This is not sparring. Protect yourself at all times. Protect yourself at all times. Okay, you’re not sparring. This is real. This is a fight.”

Reportedly, Mike Tyson used to train for eight to nine hours a day. A regular day began with three- to four-mile runs followed by skills and ring work that included sparring sessions, bag work, pad work, and calisthenics. Sparring remained the most crucial segment when boxers visited the gym and fought Tyson. Typically, a session included 8–12 rounds, giving him feedback on improving techniques and the challenges he might face from an opponent.

Read More: “R.I.P to a Giant Among Giants”: Mike Tyson Joins Fans in Mourning Saddening Demise of American Icon and Greatest Humanitarian at Age 92

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