Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson has made headlines with a surprising revelation that he once offered a zookeeper $10,000 to fight a silverback gorilla.
This revelation not only made the netizens laugh but also generated curiosity about the real reason why Mike had to challenge a gorilla.
Known as the "Baddest Man on the Planet," Tyson has never been one to shy away from controversy or unconventional behavior.
In the late 1980s, Tyson decided to rent out an entire zoo in New York for a romantic outing with his then-wife.
During a walk around the New York zoo with his ex-wife Robin Givens, Tyson apparently became attracted to a dominant male gorilla that was bullying the other gorillas in its cage.
In a resurfaced interview, Tyson admitted that he paid a zoo worker to reopen the gorilla cage for him.
He expressed his desire to confront the silverback gorilla and even offered $10,000 to a zookeeper to allow him to enter the cage and "smash that silverback's snotbox."
However, the zookeeper wisely declined the offer to preserve the safety of both Tyson and the gorilla.
Although Tyson expressed a desire to punch the 'evil' gorilla, he has consistently displayed a genuine love for animals.
In a recent Instagram Live interview, he expressed regret for keeping tigers in captivity in the past.
He acknowledged that these animals cannot be fully domesticated and can pose serious risks, even to their owners.
In addition to his passion for pigeons, Tyson has indulged in owning three Bengal tigers, which cost up to a staggering £144,000.
However, Tyson's ownership of these unique pets was short-lived as they were later taken from him and moved to an undisclosed sanctuary.
He now possesses a 40-acre cannabis ranch in California and recently made headlines for hosting a cannabis-friendly music festival.
Remarkably, he was captured on video smoking a foot-long joint at a marijuana festival.
Tyson's boxing career was marked by significant achievements, including winning gold medals at the 1981 and 1982 Junior Olympics.
His rise to fame more popular in 1986 when he claimed his first title fight against Trevor Berbick for the World Boxing Council (WBC) championship.
However, his success was shattered by a highly controversial incident in 1992.
Tyson faced legal consequences when an Indianapolis jury found him guilty of the rape of a Miss Black America contestant, destroying his reputation and leading to a significant public outcry.
