Even though Mike Tyson is one of the best heavyweight boxers of all time, he has been involved in a fair share of controversies.

At the young age of 20, Tyson became the youngest boxer ever to win a heavyweight title. Iron Mike possesses a level of power and ferocity that a rare few have been able to match.

From something as trivial as biting Evander Holyfield’s ear in the ring to being in prison on charges of rape. Tyson’s career has been a series of ups and downs.

Here is one that leans a little more to the trivial side. Mike Tyson once offered $10,000 to a zoo-keeper to open a cage, so that he could “smash” a silverback gorilla in the face.

The story goes back to the late 1980s while Tyson was on a private tour of a zoo. And he saw a gorilla being a bully. Therefore, he offered the zoo-keeper a hefty sum to open the cage so that he could go in and teach the gorilla a lesson.

“When we got to the gorilla cage there was one big silverback gorilla there just bullying all the other gorillas. They were so powerful but their eyes were like an innocent infant. I offered the attendant $10,000 to open the cage and let [me] smash that silverback’s snot box! He declined.”- Mike Tyson to Boxing Scene

Mike Tyson and His Infatuation For Animals

This is not the only wild story that involves Tyson and an exotic animal. During his heyday, Tyson possessed tigers and they were housed in his Las Vegas mansion.

“Somebody jumped over my fence where my tiger was and … started playing with the tiger. The tiger didn’t know the lady so there was a bad accident.”- Mike Tyson to rapper Fat Joe

Trending

“This Ref Must Have a Bet”: Jorge Masvidal, Jake Paul, Manny Pacquiao, and Others Stunned as Ryan Garcia Upsets Devin Haney In Dominant Fashion

April 21, 2024 06:56 AM EDT

Ryan Garcia’s Relationship Status After Divorcing Ex-Wife: Does He Have a New Girlfriend?

April 20, 2024 12:55 PM EDT

Do Not Judge Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia Referee Harvey Dock Before Watching His Previous Fights

April 22, 2024 06:08 PM EDT

Devin Haney’s Mom: Real Reason He Left Her at the Age of 14?

April 20, 2024 05:05 PM EDT

Mike Tyson Leaves Fans in Disbelief Over “Terrifying” Warning to Jake Paul

April 16, 2024 06:19 PM EDT

Get instantly notified of the hottest Boxing stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

Tyson recalls that one of his tigers attacked a trespasser back in the 1990s. The damage was so severe that the boxer had to pay the woman $250,000.

“Listen, when I saw what the tiger did to her … I had a lot of money back then so I gave her $250,000, whatever it was because she was just f—– up. I didn’t know what they could do to a person’s flesh, had no idea.“- Mike Tyson

However, Tyson admits that he was foolish to try and domesticate tigers back then. He adds that the cats could have killed someone by accident. “They are too strong,” said Tyson.

Seemingly, Tyson’s attitude towards animals has changed. Where there were once tigers and gorillas, now lies a poodle. Something that all animal rights activists could congratulate Tyson for.