Mike Tyson Makes Shocking Claim About Being Loved By Fans In His Most Revealing Interview Yet

Mike Tyson has extraordinarily claimed that his wife thinks he would 'kill himself' if fans didn't speak to him on the street.

The boxing legend has battled mental health problems throughout his career as well as drug and alcohol abuse.

'Iron Mike' has always had a loyal legion of fans despite the demons he has battled in his life.

On Instagram Live, he told Charlie Mack that he has struggled with how the public view him.

"I'm going to tell you something that my wife [Lakiha Spicer] doesn't like okay," the 53-year-old began when asked about crowds following him.

"I expected that, that is what I trained for so when it happens, why should I be surprised?

"My wife said 'if you went out there and no one says hi you might commit suicide'.

"You wouldn't know what to do because you wouldn't have anyone there to acknowledge you.

"All my life I wanted to be acknowledged, I'd kill myself to be acknowledged. In order to live you have to kill yourself."

It's a fascinating insight into the mind of the former world champion who has been vocal about his wife stopping him becoming a 'savage animal' in the past.

Without my wife, I'm a savage animal," he told rapper T.I. on ExpediTIously. "I look at women differently as I get older.

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"When I was younger, I viewed them as pleasure. Now that I'm older, I look at them as the half.

"It makes me realise that I'm a man. And at this stage in my life, they're my teachers.

"If a man doesn't have a little bit of fear of his wife, he's not living his life right.

That's why I got married three times... because I can't live without a wife.

"If I don't have a wife, I'll kill myself. That's real talk.

"I need somebody to listen to. I'm a soldier. I can't think on my own, I need somebody to do it... I know myself."

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Tyson, who is set to make a return to boxing, also discussed the UFC's recent pay controversy in his chat with Mack.

"Listen to this, UFC is more popular than boxing, right? Higher ratings, right?

"But a UFC fighter will never be richer than a first-class fighter.

"To make a $100 million, Conor [McGregor] had to fight Floyd [Mayweather]. Jon Jones got to fight me if he wants to make some super money."

Topics: Mike Tyson, Boxing News, Boxing, Boxing legends

Daniel Marland

Daniel is a journalist for SPORTbible and he has previous experience with Manchester United. He has spoken to some of the biggest names in sport including Rio Ferdinand, Peter Crouch, WWE COO Triple H and WWE legend The Undertaker. May or may not do a decent impression of Jamie Carragher.

@DanMarland_