Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson did not have the best childhood growing up. He grew up in a tough neighborhood of Brooklyn where he was raised by a single mother after his biological father left the family when he was a child. Moreover, Tyson’s mother had substance abuse problems which only added to his troubles.

Despite this, Tyson detailed that his mother was a tough woman who commanded respect from her peers and even the men around her. This, in turn, made Iron Mike very afraid of his mother and her friends.

Mike Tyson details why he was scared of his mother

In his book, ‘The Undisputed Truth’ Tyson revealed that while his family members loved each other they were all very cunning. Moreover, he added that he was scared of his family, especially his mother.

“That is the kind of life I grew up in. People in love cracking their heads and bleeding like dogs. They love each other but they’re stabbing each other. Holy sh*t, I was scared to death of my family in the house. I’m growing up around tough women, women who fight men.” he said

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However, there was a negative aspect to this environment for Tyson who would start thinking that fighting a woman was justified. He details why it became necessary for him to fight women despite the taboo of violence against women.

Tyson reveals why it was necessary for him to fight women

In the next paragraph, he details why he thought it was okay for him to hit a woman. He stated that the women he grew up around were more dangerous than any man and could easily shoot or hurt him if he didn’t protect himself from being bullied.

“I didn’t think fighting a woman was taboo because the women I knew would kill you. You had to fight them, because if you didn’t, they’d
slice you or shoot you. Or else they’d bring some men to take advantage of you and beat you up, because they thought you were a punk.” he added.

Iron Mike’s childhood was a very strange and unnerving one filled with complications. However, boxing would turn out to be his savior bringing him out of the cycle of poverty and violence and boosting him into unprecedented stardom.

What did you think about Tyson being more sacred of his family than his opponents? Let us know in the comments.

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