Mike Tyson has revealed a sensitive chapter in his storied career as the “baddest man on the planet”, admitting he cried before fights. Since his boxing debut in 1985, Tyson has not only amassed an impressive 50 wins, but has also won the WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight titles while fighting icons such as Frank Bruno and Lennox Lewis.

Although the nickname “Iron” Mike seems to only reflect the ferocity and explosive power he displayed in the ring, the now 58-year-old legend occasionally pulls back the curtain to reveal a softer, emotional side. In a candid conversation with William Shatner on his Hotboxin’ podcast that aired in July 2020, Tyson opened up about his pre-fight tears, admitting, “I always cried before a fight.”

Delving deeper into his psyche, Tyson continued, “I don’t know, it’s just who I am,” prompting the Star Trek star to encourage him to delve deeper into self-discovery. In response, Tyson said, “I’m getting ready to turn into someone I don’t like,” which clearly intrigued Shatner.

Tyson detailed the internal turmoil, adding: “He brought more than just the fight with him. He brought jealousy, jealousy and guilt. He brought a lot of things,” before concluding on a reflective note: “That’s captivating, no one has ever put it together.

“That’s who I was. Everything that was bad was this guy. Everything I remember from the past, my mother, my family… it was this guy.” Tyson then admitted that while his ego is arduous to suppress, he still manages to “sneak it up every now and then.”

In the same podcast, Tyson discussed the importance of fear to a fighter, saying, “Fear is our friend. Fear is like fire, you know what I mean? If you are afraid of it and let it get out of control, it can destroy you and everything around you, but if you can control it, it can cook food for you, it can toasty you and keep you toasty. He can be your friend and he can fight for you.

The boxing legend is set to return to the professional ranks after 19 years as he prepares to face Jake Paul at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with the fight scheduled for early Saturday morning (UK time). Having been away from professional boxing since his defeat to Kevin McBride in 2005, Tyson returned to the ring in 2020 for an exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr, which ended in a draw after eight rounds.

Paul, on the other hand, has compiled an impressive 10-1 record since making the jump from YouTube star to boxing four years ago, defeating notable opponents such as Nate Diaz, Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley. Tyson shared more about how he is able to unleash his fierce side in the ring as he prepares for his intense November 15 fight.

While chatting with Logan Paul and Mike Majlak on the Impaulsive podcast, Tyson candidly discussed how easily he can tap into his more wild personality. He said, “Listen, he wants to come back every second of my life. It’s so straightforward for him to come back.” He further explained, “All I have to do is think about the fact that I’m younger and that people are bullying me.”

Mike Tyson remained still on why he punched Jake Paul during their fight, but warned his rival that he was “ready”. The heavyweight legend seemed to take offense as Paul crawled up to him and then jumped in his face after the weigh-in.

Tyson punched Paul before security guards and band members intervened to separate the pair. When tranquil was restored, Tyson simply stated, “I’m ready,” sinking to describe his actions.

Paul shot back: “I didn’t even feel it, he’s livid. He’s an livid little elf.” He continued: “Mike Tyson, I thought that was a cute slap, dude, but you’re gonna get knocked out tomorrow. Fuck him, Ariel, I’m fucked *hits on him. It hits like hell… It’s personal now, personal now. He must die!”

Tyson was still all week and barely spoke at Wednesday’s press conference, but he came alive after stepping on the scale yesterday. He weighed 228.4 pounds, six pounds heavier than Paul, who had bulked up from the 200-pound cruiserweight limit since he knocked out Mike Perry in six rounds in July.

Paul has an impressive record of 10 wins from 11 professional fights, with his only defeat coming at the hands of Tommy Fury last year. He bolstered his fighting resume with victories over former MMA stars such as Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva and Nate Diaz.

Additionally, he secured a knockout against former NBA player Nate Robinson during the undercard of Tyson’s 2020 exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr, which ended in a stalemate. The upcoming fight, rescheduled for July, will be officially registered on Tyson’s professional record, although it will consist of eight two-minute rounds and wearing 14-ounce gloves instead of the standard 10-ounce gloves.

At a recent press conference, when Tyson was asked about critics downplaying the fight, he replied: “Oh well. The people (here) speak for themselves. I don’t have to answer.” Faced with the potential impact of loss, the legendary “Iron Mike” bristled with confidence, asserting, “I won’t lose,” and doubling down on his meaning, “I won’t lose. Did you hear what I said? ?”

Despite the significant age difference, Paul is 27 years aged and is the favorite. However, Tyson remained unfazed, stating: “Thank you. Hey, I’m fine, everything’s fine.” Tyson stated: “I’m only interested in this fight. “I’m not talking about fighting anyone, just Jake.”

He had previously engaged in verbal sparring, calling Paul a “fabricated killer” in comparison to his self-proclaimed “born killer” status. However, during the pre-fight media event, he appeared dejected, simply remarking, “Yeah, that’s what I said, that’s what I said.”

Carl Froch believes the Jake Paul and Mike Tyson fight was “scripted” to give Paul a win.

Froch has been critical of Paul for years, and he’s not holding back on Friday’s fight between the YouTuber-turned-boxer and Tyson on streaming giant Netflix.

“Iron Mike,” who will turn 59 in June, will end a nearly 20-year hiatus to face the 27-year-old at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The two fight over eight two-minute rounds in a professional fight, but “The Cobra” believes the fight will go to Paul.

“I think it’s a scripted fight and will last three or four rounds,” he told GB News via Casino.org.

“Jake Paul will definitely win; Tyson may start well, but then he will fall.

“Paul cannot lose. It’s in the contract, he can’t lose.

“He’s a useless idiot.”

The American rivals were supposed to fight on July 20, but the fight was postponed due to Tyson’s injury ulcer exacerbation.

Tyson, the former undisputed heavyweight champion, was questioned about fighting someone of Paul’s caliber, but Froch does not believe the outcome will have an impact on his legacy.

“I don’t think so, no,” he added when asked if the defeat would impact his legacy.

“I think it’s unlikely he would grab the microphone and start bragging after beating up an elderly man.

“If so, he really has more illusory energy than I thought.

“Mike Tyson is an iconic name after what he achieved in sport when he was physically fit and capable, but not at the age of 58.”

Tyson remained mute at Wednesday’s final press conference, insisting he was ready to fight for the first time as a professional since his 2005 loss to Kevin McBride.

Even Paul was left to handle most of the promotional issues during the press conference confrontation with those on the bottom card who chose a Brooklyn legend to beat him.

Both pairs will face each other for the last time at the weigh-in on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. Polish time.