Mike Tyson’s return to his old neighbourhood of Brownsville, New York, led to an unexpected confrontation with a man he had robbed decades ago.
The encounter, captured in Netflix’s “Countdown: Paul vs. Tyson” documentary, showed a surprisingly lighthearted exchange between the former heavyweight champion and his past victim.
The incident emerged just days before Tyson’s highly anticipated bout with Jake Paul, scheduled for this Friday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The meeting offered a glimpse into Tyson’s troubled past whilst highlighting how far the boxing legend has come since his youth in Brooklyn.
During the encounter, a man approached Tyson saying, “You robbed me when I was 8 years old on Amboy and Pitkin.”
The man continued, referencing the location: “He robbed me when I was a kid, bro. On Pitkin, by the Woolworth’s store. You remember Woolworth’s?”
Mike Tyson was left stunned when he met a fan, who said he robbed him as a boy
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Initially, Tyson laughed at the revelation, before appearing to show genuine remorse.
“I’m sorry, bro,” Tyson responded, before embracing the man.
The exchange remained surprisingly cordial, with both men able to laugh about the decades-old incident.
The fan appeared happy to share his story, filming the interaction whilst surrounded by Tyson’s security detail.
The encounter highlighted Tyson’s troubled past in Brownsville, where he relocated at age 10.
By the time he was 13, Tyson had been arrested an astonishing 38 times, reflecting the area’s high crime rate.
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“My whole life was about crime,” Tyson reflected in the documentary. “There was nothing special about being a criminal here.”
The boxing legend offered a sobering assessment of his return to the neighbourhood: “It lets me know I’m nobody. Sometimes I think I’m somebody but when I come back here, I realize I’m nobody.”
His criminal history extended beyond Brownsville, leading to a federal prison sentence in 1992 following a rape conviction.
The upcoming fight between Tyson and Paul will take place this Friday, 15 November, at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Mike Tyson apologised to the fan, with the meeting completely cordial
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The venue, home to the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, is expected to host 80,000 spectators.
The bout will be streamed exclusively on Netflix and promoted by Most Valuable Promotions.
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Mike Tyson’s past catches up as he meets a man he robbed as a teenager 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/m3C0F5WoR2
— Insane Reality Leaks (@InsaneRealitys) November 11, 2024
Both fighters are anticipated to earn substantial paydays, with estimates ranging between £20m-£40m each.
The main fight card is scheduled to begin at 8pm ET (1am GMT), making for a late night for British viewers.
The contest marks a unique clash of generations, with millions expected to tune in worldwide.