Mike Tyson was undoubtedly one of the scariest men on the planet during his prime as a heavyweight boxer.
The American athlete was at the peak of his powers in 1988 when he confronted now-President Donald Trump.
‘Iron Mike’ was the youngest heavyweight champion of all time (a record that still holds today) while also holding the undisputed heavyweight title. One of the greatest boxers in history, the dominant superstar held a record of 35-0 in the summer of ’88.
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While everything was going to plan inside the ring, Tyson’s marriage to actress Robin Givens lasted only one year. Givens cited spousal abuse, which came from his jealousy and temper, as one of the main reasons behind the split.
Donald Trump Confronted by Mike Tyson
Tyson, who was 21 years old at the time, was apparently sent into a rage when he heard a rumour that his wife had an affair with Trump. Per the author of the book TrumpNation, Tim O’Brien, ‘The Baddest Man on the Planet’ didn’t take too kindly to what he was hearing.
He claims Tyson stormed into Trump’s office demanding answers, asking (per talkSPORT): “Could I ask you, are you f****** my wife?” It’s never been disclosed what else was said during that conversation, but the US President is still around to tell the tale, suggesting he de-escalated the situation.
O’Brien has quoted the now 79-year-old’s first words after the tense meeting. The politician and businessman reportedly said:
“Now, if I froze, I’m dead… you would have zero chance. Here’s the heavyweight champion of the world, and he’s a solid piece of fu***** armour.”
This all came after the pair had shared a strong working relationship. Trump had even bid an eye-watering $11million to hold Tyson’s fight against Michael Spinks at the Atlantic City Convention Hall near his New Jersey HQ that same year.
Mike Tyson Endorsed Trump as US President
It certainly appears this brief tension didn’t last, as Tyson was one of the very first celebrities to throw his backing behind Trump’s run for the US presidency in 2016.
In an interview with The Daily Caller, the boxer publicly praised the man who would go on to spend two terms in the Oval Office. “That sh** is the real deal. Listen: I’m a black mother***** from the poorest town in the country. I’ve been through a lot in life,” he said.
Tyson even claimed there’s a huge level of respect Trump shows his family, which can’t be said for other Presidents of the past. Even after the short-lived feud three decades earlier, he claimed:
“And I know him. When I see him, he shakes my hand and respects my family. None of them- Barack, whoever- nobody else does that.
“They’re gonna be who they are and disregard me, my family. So I’m voting for him. If I can get 200,000 people or more to vote for him, I’m gonna do it.”
