Former Heavyweight Champion Mike Tyson Says He Was Sexually Abused At The Age Of 7

Mike Tyson, the former heavyweight boxing champion, recently did an interview with U.S. radio. During his interview on the Opie Show, Tyson shocked listeners by admitting for the first time that he was sexually abused at the age of 7.

Tyson, 48, told listeners that a male adult grabbed him off of the street, reports Business Insider.

“He bullied me, sexually abused me and stuff… snatched me off the street. I was a little kid,” he told the Sirius XM Radio station.

Tyson says it only happened one time, reports ABC News.

Iron Mike says that he never saw the man again. Until now he has never told anyone, not the police or even his parents.

“It was nobody’s business to know. I just lived my life,” Tyson said.

Tyson did not talk about the effects of the incidence on his life, but he did say that he did not feel any shame.

“I don’t always remember, maybe I do, but I don’t. I’m not embarrassed or ashamed from that perspective,” Tyson said.

Tyson was being interviewed by the station to promote his new show.

The legendary boxer made history back in 1986 when he beat Trevor Berbick for the World Boxing Council heavyweight championship. Tyson took the win with a second round TKO. Tyson was only 20-years-old, and on that night he became the youngest heavyweight champion in history.

He went on to win 50 of 58 fights, 44 of those by knockout, during his legendary career.

In 1992, Tyson made headlines again when he was convicted of raping a teenage beauty queen. He served six years for that crime.

After his release, he made headlines again in 1997 for biting off a chunk of Evander Holyfield’s ear during a match.

“It’s nobody’s business to know. That’s why a bunch of entertainers have egos, it buffers their flaws, their demons, which is a demon itself. But it buffers the one you are afraid of. Everybody else if afraid of your ego, but you’re afraid of the demon you’re afraid of,” Tyson explained when asked why he had never told anyone about the abuse before.

ABC News reported that emotion really showed on Tyson’s face as he spoke about the painful event. It was a tough thing to open up and talk about, even for a heavyweight champion.

When asked how he got away from his abuser after the abuse, Tyson simply answered, “I ran.”

Tyson said he isn’t sure if the painful experience changed him or not.

“He is in a good place in his life with sobriety, family and career,” his rep said in a statement to ABC News after the interview.