Mike Tyson says he kicked Don King in the head because he 'loved him' and also KOd his bodyguard, th

Publish date: 2024-06-18

Mike Tyson once kicked his former promoter Don King in the head and has now explained that he did so because he 'loved him'.

At the height of his career Iron Mike was known as 'The Baddest Man on the Planet' for good reason.

The wild and ruthless heavyweight champion could be unpredictable at the best of times, let alone when he'd been crossed.

Tyson and King had a fractious relationship which was soured by the promoter's attitude to financial dealings.

In 1998, Tyson sued King for $100million (ultimately winning $14million) alleging that he defrauded him out of millions during the course of their partnership.

Initially when he discovered this issue though, 'The Baddest Man on the Planet' opted for a more personal approach, rather than getting lawyers involved.

“We’re driving and next thing I know I freaked out and I kicked the guy,” Tyson recalled on his Hotboxin’ Podcast back in 2020.

“As soon as I kicked him in the back of the head he puts on the breaks. As soon as we stop, I’m beating him in the car.

"I’m trying to get the girl in the front seat to hold him so he can’t run because I couldn’t [hit] him the way I wanted to.

"As soon as I let him go he got out of the car.

"I tried to run across and he did a little back turn and got back in the front, drove off and left me on the highway."

Tyson continued: "Then one of his security guys in a Rolls Royce comes, he thinks we’re stuck on the road.

“He pulls over and I’m mad because he’s Don’s security guard so I give him a shot. Pow.

“He’s out cold right in the middle of the street.

"A police car comes. The guy is out. I have cocaine and marijuana in a box that my girlfriend was holding.

“The [officer] puts us in the car and brings us to the hotel and asks me, ‘Are you okay Mr Tyson?'

"I replied, 'Thank you very much, officer.'

"F***ing bricks of cocaine and marijuana everything I got in there. He took us to the hotel. I should be in handcuffs. Somebody is out cold on the highway. He didn’t ask me s***.

"I’m thinking he’s taking us to the police station… He took us right to the hotel.”

Years later, Tyson is now a far more mellow character and has an entirely different attitude to his past escapades.

"I'm sorry I did that," Tyson reflected on The Pivot podcast this month.

"[He was] f***ing with money and s***. Not doing the right s***."

Asked why he didn't take a legal route to begin with, Tyson replied: "Exactly, that's the route I would normally take.

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Mike Tyson says he kicked Don King in the head because he 'loved him' and also KOd his bodyguard, th

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