Mike Tyson said he has to be careful when he unleashes his inner killer on Jake Paul during their rescheduled fight on Nov. 15.
During an appearance on Paul’s brother Logan’s “Impaulsive” podcast, Tyson explained that he’s still “haunted” by his dark side because its landed him in handcuffs.
Tyson’s remarks came after Logan said fans are looking forward to seeing the villain version of Tyson and “the killer come out” in his boxing return.
“Absolutely, that’s gonna happen, but here is what I learned from prior experience — when that tough guy Mike Tyson comes out when it’s not necessary to come out, I’m always in handcuffs,” Tyson, 58, said.
“So, I’m always careful when that guy comes out. Every time I drink or get ready to fight, I break out in handcuffs.
“Unfortunately, I have to fight and be that guy. I wish I could stop that guy. That guy haunts me. I wish I could stop that guy. I wish that guy died, but he’s here to stay.”
Tyson explained how that killer version of himself “wants to come back every second of my life.”
“It’s so easy for him to come back,” he said.
Tyson added that he “gets rid of the guy” by loving his children and his family.
Elsewhere in the interview, Tyson said he’s not viewing Jake, 27, as a YouTuber or internet personality.
“I look at him as a killer. That’s how I look at him,” Tyson said.
The boxing legend confirmed that he’s past his ulcer problem, which pushed back the date of their bout, initially set for last month.
Tyson had a health scare in May when his ulcer flared up while onboard a flight from Miami to Los Angeles.
The fighters met Sunday for a press conference at the Javits Center as part of Fanatics Fest NYC.
Paul (10-1, seven knockouts) vs. Tyson (50-6, 44 knockouts) will take place at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas, and will stream live exclusively on Netflix.
It will mark Tyson’s first pro boxing fight since 2005.
