Mike Tyson's Shock Response When Asked If A Normal Person Could Take A Punch From Him

Mike Tyson has revealed he thinks a 'normal person' would be able to take one of his punches if they had no fear of death.

'Iron Mike' has gone down as one of boxing's biggest legends and his ferocious strikes took him to world championship glory at age 20.

But he revealed during and episode of 'Safe Distance with Mike Tyson' with comedian and actor Kenan Thompson that anyone could take his punch if they were mentally prepared.

"What is a normal person?" the 53-year-old began.

"It has nothing to do with being an athletic person, it's about your morale. Fighting has a lot to do with morality too.

"It's not about taking it, it's the willingness to die, that's what life is. When you stand up to it you no longer have to fear it."

Tyson earned the nickname of 'Baddest Man on the Planet' in his prime, but candidly revealed he had to battle nerves before every fight.

He explained: "I never thought I could handle being a fighter. It just was. I've never been able to handle it.

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"You always get nervous. I'm nervous now. That's just part of life. I believe from my experience that the feeling is a natural defence mechanism.

"You rise to the occasion or you freeze. You learn to deal with that."

Footage has recently emerged of a young Tyson getting emotional prior to a Junior Olympics heavyweight final in the early 80's.

Teddy Atlas, who assisted in the training of Cus D'Amato's teenage protégé as he climbed the ladder, quickly comforts a nervous Tyson and tells him to 'relax' before putting an arm around the American, who can be heard sobbing.

"You've done it already 20 times, with better fighters than this guy," Atlas says.

Moments before the incident, Atlas speaks about Tyson's personality in a different location. The trainer admits that the fighter is 'easily misled' and needs someone to be there with him to give him confidence.

After Atlas gave an inspired speech to his fighter, Tyson looks ready to go to war, shadow boxing his way inside the building.

Tyson then proceeds to destroy his opponent with trademark body shots and deadly left and right hooks.

It's a fascinating insight into the psyche of Tyson and how he became one of the world's best.

Topics: Mike Tyson, Boxing News, News, Boxing

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_