‘I look forward to it… living is probably more complicated’: Boxing legend Mike Tyson opens up on death and how being famous was ‘s***’
- Boxing legend Mike Tyson has revealed he is ‘looking forward’ to death
- The American has had a rollercoaster life in and outside of the boxing ring
- Tyson said: ‘The more I know about not existing, the more willing I am to die’
Mike Tyson has revealed he is looking forward to the day he dies as ‘life is more complicated’.
The boxing legend has had a rollercoaster life in and outside of the ring and recently admitted how retiring from the sport has left him feeling like a shell of the man who once ruled the heavyweight division.
At his peak, Tyson was the most ferocious and destructive puncher on the planet and became the youngest ever heavyweight world champion at 20 years old.
Mike Tyson has revealed he is looking forward to death as life is more complicated
He was also the first heavyweight to hold the WBA, WBC and IBF belts and later became the lineal champion.
Tyson’s life spiralled out of control after he was beaten by James Buster Douglas in 1990 in one of the biggest upsets in boxing’s history.
The American was convicted of rape and jailed two years later before returning to the sport in 1995. He would recapture the world title but was never quite the same.
Reflecting on his career and his life, Tyson admitted he does not fear death, telling The Sportsman: ‘From my experience, from what I believe, the more I know about not existing, the more willing I am to die.
Tyson is youngest ever heavyweight champion and first to hold the IBF, WBA and WBC belts
‘Yeah [I look forward to it], I don’t fear it. Living might be more complicated than dying to me… because living takes a lot of courage.
‘Without the courage, you can’t handle living. Living is a journey; living is a struggle. People have everything and they still can’t do it, they struggle.
‘We take ourselves too seriously; we think we’re somebody. Who the f***, we’re nothing! We come from s***; we think we’re special [but] fame is s***.
‘You find out you’re not [special]. You’re capable of going to jail, you’re capable of dying, you’re capable of being mistreated.
‘I don’t really expect bad things to happen to me, but when they do happen to me, I understand it and I’m able to handle it. I’ve handled bad stuff before, that’s been my life. I don’t trip over bad things, I know s*** happens. When bad things happen, I will be still striving to do something. I won’t be discouraged.’
He recently opened up on his struggles with his mental health and coping with retirement