Former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson is widely regarded as one of the toughest individuals to ever step inside the ring. Moreover, fans were in awe of the sheer grit and determination the champ showcased. It can be said that Tyson’s difficult childhood, and growing up in a rough neighborhood had a major hand in making him the behemoth that he was in his prime. He has also often spoken about how his mother’s often questionable actions affected him. In fact, he once opened up about finding a “white baby” in his house, as a child.

Tyson released his autobiography, ‘Undisputed Truth’, in the year 2014. Moreover, the book that he co-wrote with Larry Sloman, saw him talking about his childhood and his journey to becoming a world champion.

Mike Tyson talks about his mother

Tyson, who never knew his biological father, was raised by his mother, Lorna Smith. Though the family initially lived in the up-and-coming Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood. Financial troubles forced them to move to the Brownsville neighborhood in eastern Brooklyn when Tyson was 10. During his time in Brownsville, Tyson was not too fond of the friendships his mother made. He said, “When my mother had some money, she’d splurge. She was a great facilitator and she’d always have her girlfriends over and a bunch of men too.”

Tyson also mentioned that the group would spend time drinking. And his mother would provide them with drugs as well. Moreover, he also revealed that his mother’s friends were prostitutes who would leave their children at his house.

Tyson further added, “When they’d come to pick up their kids, they might have blood on their clothes, so my mom would help them clean up. I came home one day and there was a white baby in the house.”

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There is no denying that Tyson was freaked out to see the baby inside his house. And what was even more surprising is that this was the very same Tyson who was unshaken to see his mother’s friends covered in blood.

Tyson believes his mother’s early demise was good for him

Lorna Smith died from cancer in 1982. This was when he was adopted by his trainer and father figure, Cus D’Amato. While her death devastated him, Tyson believed that her death was ‘one of the best things that ever happened‘ to him.

Tyson was a guest on the Club Shay Shay podcast when he opened up about the same. He mentioned that she would have ‘babied’ him. And this would have been detrimental to his growth as a boxer. Moreover, he also mentioned that he never had a chance to know his mother, and her death emotionally drained him.

Do you think Tyson’s mother affected his growth as an individual? Do let us know in the comments below.

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