Tyson's Honest Confessions About His Past: I Hit Don King Because I Loved Him
JAKARTA - Mike Tyson revealed that he kicked and punched famous boxing promoter Don King because of his love.
King and boxing legend Tyson had a strained relationship that was marred by the promoter's financial stance.
Tyson accused King of defrauding him of millions of dollars during their working relationship and filed a $100 million lawsuit against him in 1998, earning him $14 million in the end.
"We were driving and the next thing I know I'm pissed and I'm kicking the guy (Don King)," Tyson recalled on the Hotboxin' Podcast in 2020 reported by Marca on Tuesday.
"As soon as I kicked him (King) in the back of the head he stopped the car. As soon as we stopped, I beat him in the car.
"I tried to hold the girl in the front seat so she (King) couldn't run because I couldn't (hit) her like I wanted to.
"As soon as I let him go he got out of the car. I tried to run and he turned a little back and came back forward, drove off and left me on the highway."
Tyson also stated that he dropped King's bodyguard because he was already so angry with the promoter.
"Then one of his bodyguards came in in a Rolls Royce, he thought we were stuck on the road," Tyson added.
"He pulled over and I was angry because he was Don (King's) security guard, so I tried to hit him. "Pow". He fell right in the middle of the road."
Tyson remembers that he was carrying drugs. But a police officer helps him not to be caught.
"A police car came. The man got out. I had cocaine and marijuana in the box my boyfriend was holding," Tyson joked.
"The officer put us in the car and asked me, 'Are you all right, Mr Tyson?'
"I replied, 'Thank you very much, officer.'
"All the damn cocaine and marijuana I had was in the car. I had to be handcuffed. Someone fell on the highway. He (Police) didn't ask me anything.
"I thought he was going to take us to the police station... He took us straight to the hotel."
Years later, Tyson has grown into a much more relaxed person with a completely different perspective on his past mistakes.
"I'm sorry I did that," Tyson alluded to on this month's The Pivot podcast.
"(He) is enslaved by money and disgusting things. Not doing the right thing."
When asked why he didn't go legal in the first place, Tyson replied: "Exactly, that's the route I usually take.
"But I love him (King)... It's a family matter.
"Sometimes you have to treat your family like strangers to make your family act like family."