“I was a c-ke addict and an alcoholic, too.” That’s how Mike Tyson remembers his most tumultuous times. Some of the hardest battles that he faced were outside the boxing ring, as he struggled through crippling drug addiction. Add a string of awful decisions, and you can understand why he filed for bankruptcy in 2003. But the American fighter fought back and triumphed over his menacing opponent—addiction.

Tyson, 58, had battled a crippling addiction to intoxicants, which continued throughout the majority of his life, even after he hung up his boxing gloves. It reached a worrying time when he was seriously contemplating ending his life. “I’m on the verge of dying because I’m a vicious alcoholic,” he had declared back in 2013 in an emotional confession. However, ‘Iron Mike’ showed resilience and determination and is now living a healthy life.

Tyson, at 50-6, detailed his past troubles in an interview with Loaded magazine. Admitting his mental health woes, and his progress, he said, “I still have struggles with my mental well-being. But thankfully I have better tools. I’ve learned a lot over the years from being a former drug addict. I understand my triggers and why I self-sabotage.” Following this, the former world champion disclosed how he has now developed a coping mechanism to tackle this.

He continued, “When I’m honest with myself and do that self-inventory, I feel great.” He also pointed out how most people, especially addicts, blame others for their problems when they have the agency to redirect their lives. The Brooklyn native added, “That’s only possible if you’re honest with yourself about how you got to where you are now.”

With his complicated past with intoxicants pushed behind him, he continues to prepare for his coming fight with Jake Paul. Interestingly, in the same interview, he advocated for the use of testosterone.

Mike Tyson: removing the stigma

‘Baddest Man On Planet’ explained that a drop in testosterone levels was linked with affecting one’s physicality and mental state. He argued for the idea of significant alteration in daily supplementing habits and advocated for increased use of testosterone, at least for people who are his age. Tyson declared, “From the age of 30, I don’t care how healthy you are. Your testosterone levels drop. This affects more than just your physicality. It also affects your mood.”

“Getting a testosterone plan as you age should be as normal for a man as taking a daily supplement, in my opinion. Because it does so much to stabilize the body and mind,” he claimed. Tyson has been training hard for his fight with Paul, 27, as he tries to turn back the clock and showcase the flashes of his heydays. It remains to be seen how he manages his body, as well as his mental fortitude coming into the high-stakes fight.

What do you make of these comments by Mike Tyson about his difficult days? Let us know in the comments below.