Mike Tyson was knocking out grown men at just 12 years old, says former trainer Teddy Atlas
- Hall of Fame coach remembers the day when young Tyson walked into Cus D’Amato’s gym in Catskill, New York
- Tyson was already 86 kgs and had a 20-inch thick neck to go with his explosive power and natural ability
Mike Tyson held the unofficial title of “Baddest Man on the Planet” in his luminous heyday, but did you know he was knocking out grown men in sparring when he was just 12 years old?
Teddy Atlas, the former trainer of “Iron Mike”, revealed something some boxing aficionados might not have known: one of the world’s most feared heavyweights in history showed raw power even before hitting his teens. His explosive power and incredible boxing skills helped him become the youngest heavyweight champion of the world at 20 years and four months.
Speaking days after a video – that has since gone viral – of 53-year-old Tyson showing he still had the moves of a champion pugilist, Atlas remembers the day when Tyson first walked into the gym belonging to the late Cus D’Amato in Catskill, Upstate New York.
D’Amato famously took in the one-time delinquent Tyson – who had broken into D’Amato’s house to rob him – before the youngster turned his life around after becoming fascinated by the world of boxing.
D’Amato was one of the world’s most famous boxing trainers who handled the careers of Tyson, former heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson and Jose Torres, who all went on to become members of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Atlas witnessed the rise of Tyson, who went on to win 50 of his 56 fights with 44 coming by way of knockout. According to Atlas, Tyson weighed 86 kgs (190 pounds) and had a 20-inch neck to go with his natural ability and awesome explosive power – all at 12 years old.