$10k to fight a gorilla! Mike Tyson was fully convinced he could beat a silverback at New York zoo

Mike Tyson was known to have an extravagant lifestyle. The former fighter offered to pay a zookeeper $10k in order to fight a gorilla

$10k to fight a gorilla! Mike Tyson was fully convinced he could beat a silverback at New York zoo

Mike Tyson offered to fight a gorilla (Image Sources - Daily Star/Good Morning America)

Mike Tyson is known to be one of the most ferocious boxers of all time. The former heavyweight champion’s intimidating presence and explosive power were a nightmare for his opponents in the ring. Tyson’s ferociousness was also carried outside the ring. His love for exotic animals was well known to the fans. However, an anecdote narrated by the fighter proved it.

The former heavyweight champion narrated a story where he came close to fighting a silverback gorilla. The fighter admitted to offering $10,000 to a zookeeper to enter the gorilla cage and fight the animal. Tyson offered to do so as he had witnessed the gorilla bullying the other fragile ones. However, the offer was declined by the zookeeper.

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Mike Tyson told ‘The Sun‘ about the daring offer. He said, “I paid a worker at New York’s zoo to re-open it just for me and Robin. [Tyson’s ex-wife]” He continued, “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,” said the former heavyweight champion.

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“I offered the attendant $10,000 to open the cage and let me smash that silverback’s snot box. He declined,” said Mike Tyson. His love for exotic animals came to fruition as the fighter owned a Bengal tiger.

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Mike Tyson shares his experience owning a Bengal Tiger

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Mike Tyson owned a Bengal tiger (Image Source – The Sun)

Besides his controversial career, Mike Tyson was known to own a Bengal tiger. The former heavyweight champion possessed a tiger in his mansion that was considered to be a deadly wild animal.

Mike Tyson talks about his experience owning a Bengal tiger in the ‘Joe Rogan Experience.’ He said, “The relationship with tigers are different than lions. Lions are like dogs, they like hanging around with family. Tigers only hang around with you.” “You better hope he doesn’t like one of your children. Because then you can’t play with your children, he might kill you. They get attached to one person. They’re not no family people,” said Mike Tyson.

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The former heavyweight champion went on to reveal that he would take the tiger with him during training sessions. “They came with me. [To training camps] I had 18-wheelers, I had big trucks with the big cage. They lived big. When I go somewhere, they go with me,” said Mike Tyson.

Due to his fighting career, Mike Tyson was a millionaire. His love for exotic wild animals and his extraordinary lifestyle was affordable due to the wealth he possessed during his prime.

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