“Manipulated” By Destitute Father, 56-Year-Old Mike Tyson Speaks Out

Throughout his life, Mike Tyson has fought through the toughest of atrocities, both personally and professionally. The former heavyweight boxer has seen the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.

Notably, Tyson incurred much trauma during his childhood, being raised in a dysfunctional household and constantly being bullied by his peers. However, it didn’t stop there; recently, Iron Mike revealed how his biological father manipulated him after Tyson became famous and wealthy.

Tyson reveals how his father manipulated him

In an episode of his podcast Hotboxin’ alongside his therapist Sean McFarland, Tyson revealed that his father was a poor man who manipulated Tyson into giving him money because it was his way of life.

“Even when I met my father, he was destitute down and out and I gave him money, I bought him cars and stuff, but even though he loved me, he manipulated me, you know what I mean? Even though he loved me, because it’s his way of life, he doesn’t know any way to live,” said Tyson.

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Further, he stated that he understood where his father was coming from as he grew older. “I love him for it and I understood life. I’ve had children, I’ve been in prison, I understood life, I lost Cuss I just understood life and I know it wasn’t his fault, it was life’s fault,” he added.

How Mike Tyson overcame his tough childhood

Tyson had a very disturbed childhood, much like his father. However, he was able to break this cycle and pull himself out of the clutches of poverty and violence. Much of the credit for that could be attributed to Tyson’s mentor and adopted father Cus D’Amato, who took Iron Mike under his wing when he was 16 years old.

This would turn out to be the best thing to ever happen in Tyson’s life as he diligently pursued boxing after this and became one of the greatest in the history of the sport, gaining fame and fortune along the way.

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