Mike Tyson Revealed Why He Used Numbers for Punches Before Losing “The Baddest Man in the World” Crown

In 1986 when David Brenner interviewed 20-year-old Mike Tyson he told the latter that he never heard punches the way he heard Tyson’s. According to Brenner’s observation, Tyson’s punches were the “loudest” and gave the impression they were being thrown at men of “cement“. Glancing at Tyson’s disposition, Brenner soon asked him the reason his trainer Kevin Rooney yelled numbers while he boxed in the ring.

“In the corner, Kevin Rooney, your trainer was yelling numbers. He yelled out numbers [like] 7-3-5! Is he playing numbers?” After the audience laughed, Tyson in detail explained the reason Rooney had to yell numbers. As per Tyson’s statement, the numbers camouflaged the punches he would throw at his opponents.

The secret behind Kevin Rooney yelling numbers at Mike Tyson

According to Tyson, numbers permitted his trainer to hide the actual instructions that were being given.  “No, listen. In our training sessions, we fight by numbers. We call numbers out instead of calling the punches,” stated Tyson. The reason Rooney could not explicitly call the punches was that it allowed an experienced fighter to be aware. “If you called, ‘Left hook, right hand, left hook’ – if you’re calm and relaxed and [an] experienced fighter, you know what to expect,” explained ‘Kid Dynamite’ who recently launched ‘The Ugly Duck’ collectible.

Since Rooney called numbers instead of punches, Tyson’s opponent did not know what to guess. This allowed Tyson to camouflage his moves inside the ring. Having listened to Tyson’s explanation, Brenner said, “And I don’t know what’s going on“. Tyson realized that they understood what he tried to explain. “And the opponent thinks the same way as you do,” thus he concluded. In Kevin Rooney’s own words “the greatest fighter ever” Tyson retired in 2005.

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Nowadays, calling out numbers instead of punches is quite a common practice in combat sports. But, what do you think about Mike Tyson and his trainer’s strategy? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

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