Mike Tyson gave an honest and shocking answer to a child reporter who asked him what he thought his lasting legacy in sports would be.
Prior to Friday night's press conference for his fight against boxer Jake Paul on Netflix, Tyson was interviewed by child star Jazzlynn Guerra, host of Jazzy's World.
Guerra asked Tyson about his love for pigeons and what makes him happy, but it was a question about his heritage that elicited a deep philosophical answer from the former heavyweight champion.
“You are setting up a monumental opportunity for kids my age to see the legendary Mike Tyson in the ring for the first time,” Guerra began.
“After such a successful career, what legacy do you want to leave behind when it's all over?” she asked.
The young reporter may not have been ready for what Tyson was about to throw at him.
“I don't believe in the word legacy. I think it's just another word for 'ego'. Legacy doesn't mean anything, it's just a word that everyone grabs,” Tyson explained. did.
The 58-year-old added that he has no interest in his legacy because he is about to die.
“It means absolutely nothing to me. It's just passing by. I'll die and it's over. Who cares about the legacy?” he asked rhetorically.
Jazzlynn Guerra, a 14-year-old reporter, hosts the YouTube channel “Jazzy's World,” which has more than 700,000 subscribers.Photo credit: Dia Dipasupil/WireImage
Tyson continued, “What a big ego…so I am.” [going to] Do you want people to think, “Die, I'm this, I'm great?'' No, we are nothing, we are dead, we are dust. We are absolutely nobody, and neither is our heritage. ”
The 14-year-old probably wasn't expecting a lesson about the fragility of life, but simply… answered“Well, thanks for sharing.”
“That's something I've never heard before,” she pointed out.
But the boxer isn't done teaching about ego, and more from him is sure to come. clip Information from the interview will be disseminated.
“Can you really imagine someone saying, 'This is what I want my legacy to be like? You're dead! Why would you want someone…someone really want to think about you?' When do I want people to think about me? Who cares about me when I'm gone?'' Tyson predicted.
But the New York native acknowledged that his children and grandchildren will probably care about him after he's gone.
Mike Tyson and Jake Paul will face off on Netflix before their fight on November 15th.Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images for Netflix © 2024
The young reporter took Tyson's candid response in stride and spoke to Tyson about the hardships of adversity in a rough part of New York.
“Adversity is beautiful. I'm so glad you endured it,” Tyson told the boy. “Adversity makes the strong stronger and the weak weaker. Without adversity, we are nothing. We must be tested in life.”
As for his opponent on Nov. 15, Tyson said it remains to be seen how seriously he takes the sport.
“I don't think much of him. I think he's a very funny guy,” Tyson added.
Do you like Blaze News? Avoid censorship and sign up for our newsletter to get articles like this delivered straight to your inbox. Please register here!
