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Topics: Mike Tyson, Sport, Boxing
Anish Vij
Mike Tyson has revealed that the death of his mother was 'one of the best things that has ever happened to me'.
His mum Lorna Tyson sadly passed away from cancer in 1982, which was three years prior to her son's pro boxing debut.
He was just just 16-years-old when when he lost his mother.
The boxing icon grew up in Brownsville, a rough crimeful neighbourhood, in Brooklyn, New York.
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Tyson didn't know his biological father, Purcell Tyson, whilst his stepdad, Jimmy Kirkpatrick, walked out on the family shortly after being born.
Speaking about Kirkpatrick, the 55-year-old told the ShayShay Club: "My father was just a regular street guy caught up in the street world."
In terms of his mum, Tyson said: "You know, one of the best things that ever happened to me is that my mother died.
"Because my mother would have 'babied' me.
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"There's no way I would ever got into a street fight. No way I would ever learn to stand up for myself."
Back in 2010, the boxer told Bleacher Report that he actually barely knew his mum.
He added: "I never saw my mother happy with me and proud of me for doing something.
"She only knew me as being a wild kid running the streets, coming home with new clothes that she knew I didn't pay for.
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"I never got a chance to talk to her or know about her.
"Professionally, it has no effect, but it's crushing emotionally and personally."
As a teenager, he began associating with local gangs and getting himself in trouble which resulted in him getting into fights - many of which stemmed from him being bullied by his peers for his high-pitched voice and lisp.
Most incredibly, before he had turned 13, Tyson had been arrested around 38 times and was sent to a juvenile school.
Last month (18 January), Tyson responded to the rumours that he will be fighting Jake Paul for £36 million ($48.9m).
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This came after reports suggested that the retired boxer and the 25-year-old YouTuber were in negotiations and had 'verbally agreed' to go against each other.
However, Tyson has now responded to the suggestions that he will be fighting Paul, who is 30 years younger than him, when he said: "This is new to me. I saw Jake in St. Barths and he never mentioned it."