Legendary American boxer Mike Tyson, who is on his maiden visit to India to inaugurate a mixed martial arts league (Kumite 1 League), talks to DNA about reliving his troubled childhood days by visiting slums in Mumbai. Excerpts:
I expect to go to the slums. Slums in India are widespread. I just want to see, because I come from the slums as well. I want to see people who are like me. It will be like a flashback (of my childhood).
Yes, I lived in hell. I lived in a slum. Only if I won did I take one step out of the slum. So, my only purpose was to win. Win, that’s it.
I trained all my life to be the champion of the world. The dream came true. I am happy.
Don’t give up on your dreams. Your dream is to get out of the slums, so believe in yourself.
Oh God, that’s a tough one! There have been quite a few – against (Evander) Holyfield, (Lennox) Lewis, Buster Douglas. My first fight with Trevor Berbick when I won the world title is also special.
I like that word — exciting. Yes, it was indeed exciting.
I don’t know. I don’t know what I would have chosen. Hopefully, I wouldn’t have been in trouble because boxing saved my life. I had bad habits of going to bad places (as a kid), so boxing saved my life.
Whatever Allah allows me to be, I will – dog, bird or whatever.
Eroll Spence Jr and Vasyl Lomachenko.
No, I don’t follow Indian boxing.
Tennis. I like Novak Djokovic, though Roger Federer is really good too.
I just want to live my life, take care of my kids and watch them grow up.