‘They Tear You Apart’: Mike Tyson Explains Why Germans Were ‘Worse Than Romans’

Mike Tyson has emotionally evolved as no other fighter did. Over the course of his illustrious career, the former heavyweight champion earned the terrifying moniker “Baddest Man on the Planet.” But the champion has transformed into a philosopher who is more interested in art, religion, history, and a wide range of other disciplines.

‘Iron Mike’ hosted comedian Bill Maher on his podcast Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson. The duo reached a point where they were discussing the historic empires. Amidst this, Tyson said, “The Germans were worse than the Romans. You know Charlemagne, and those guys were worse than the Romans. How they tortured people to see if you are guilty or not. You have to um, I’m gonna put this in a bucket of scorching hot water, this is what they did. You go get it if your hands are not scorched, you’re innocent. Plus, they tear you apart.”

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Tyson discussed the emperors and rulers who made verdicts about guilt and innocence. Boxing fans know that the former champion is a student of philosophy, history, art, and other topics of interest. Even his podcast demonstrates his curiosity and breadth of knowledge.

What made Mike Tyson the man he is today? 

The legendary boxer turned 56 this year on June 30. The Hall of Famer has had a very colorful life and picked up a lot of things along the way. No other fighter or athlete must have lived a life like his; it was nothing less than a movie. To begin, Tyson spent his formative years in a shady part of New York where he engaged in thievery, street fighting, and other mischievous crimes.

He had been taken into custody over 30 times before he turned 13 years old. Later, a young Tyson became interested in fighting and eventually discovered his passion, boxing. Cus D’Amato, his coach, had assisted him in dominating both the physical and mental spheres.

At age 20, he also became the youngest world champion, and from that point on, there was no looking back. Tyson rose to prominence as the greatest boxing icon, but later had a negative impact from fame and wealth that contributed to his decline.

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Additionally, he became sidetracked by overspending and drugs and even ended up in jail. Later, the superstar lost Exodus, his daughter. The Hangover actor now serves the public by imparting his wisdom through his podcasts after viewing life from a very different perspective.