Mike Tyson considers mother’s death as ‘one of the best things’ to happen to him

Mike Tyson, a former professional boxer, has stated that his mother’s death was “one of the best things that ever happened” to him.

Tyson was just two when his stepfather abandoned his family, and he was 16 when his mother, Lorna Smith Tyson, died of cancer.

The fighter from Brooklyn, New York, had already been arrested several times by the age of 14. He knew he was capable of becoming a heavyweight boxing champion at that point, the 55-year-old recently said.

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However, in an interview with Shannon Sharpe on the Club Shay Shay podcast, he stated that if his mother had survived, he would not have gotten into fighting.

“My mother dying was one of the best things that had happened to me,” he remarked. “My mother would have taken care of me. I would never have been into a street fight, and I would never have learnt to stand up for myself.”

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Sharpe pointed out that Tyson would have undoubtedly faced individuals who pushed him to defend himself, but the boxer contended that such confrontations were planned by a higher power.

“It was God’s will for me to cope with it,” he explained, adding, “I don’t navigate my life. Do you believe I’ve navigated my life to become the heavyweight champion? No, I don’t do anything like that. That is God.”

Tyson was placed under the supervision of boxing trainer Cus D’Amato when his mother died, and he became his legal guardian. The former boxer commended D’Amato for propelling him to success, referring to him as a ‘wonderful mentor.’

Though his mother’s death may have cleared the way for his professional career, Tyson has previously expressed regret that his mother was never able to witness him at his finest.

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“I never saw my mum happy with me and proud of me for achieving something,” he stated, according to Bleacher Report. “She only remembered me as a wild youngster who ran the streets and came home with new clothing she knew I didn’t pay for. I never had the opportunity to speak with her or learn anything about her. It has no professional impact, but it is emotionally and psychologically heartbreaking.”

Tyson’s professional career lasted from 1985 to 2005, but he returned to the ring in November 2020 for an exhibition match against fellow star Roy Jones Jr.