Mike Tyson once unknowingly allowed serial killer into his gym before he was handed death sentence

Mike Tyson knew nothing about the situation as he was questioned by the police following the encounter.

Mike Tyson once unknowingly allowed a serial killer into his gym before he was handed a death sentence.

At the peak of his powers, Tyson was a media phenomenon following his ruthless and brutal displays in the boxing ring.

Every reporter wanted a piece of ‘Iron’ Mike as he reigned over the heavyweight division.

But on one occasion, he was duped by a serial killer and allowed him through his doors weeks before his arrest.

Convicted murderer Dale Hausner gained access to the boxer’s gym, having killed eight people and injured 19 people in Phoenix, Arizona.

A few weeks prior to his capture, Hausner interviewed Tyson as part of his sport journalism job, leading to questioning from the police a couple of days after their exchange.

Hausner was eventually sent to prison for life before a death sentence was carried out.

Tyson knew nothing about the situation as he fielded questions from Hausner.

Mike Tyson was duped by a serial killer during his professional career. Image: Getty

Speaking to Jimmy Kimmel, the former world heavyweight champion recalled his interaction with a police officer over his meeting with Hausner.

“I came outside, and I was talking to the guy [policeman]. He showed me the picture of me and the guy because it was on his website,” he said.

“He said, ‘Do you know this gentleman?’ And I said, ‘Well sir, I don’t know, I was promoting a fight, if I must have said something to him, if I offended him, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that’.

“And he said, ‘No, he liked you, Mr. Tyson. He didn’t like the 28 people that he shot and the eight that he killed’.”

Tyson’s brief encounter with Hausner, who committed heinous crimes, sums up his crazy life.

Featured Image Credit: IMPAULSIVE/Getty

Published 17:28 24 Aug 2024 GMT+1

Mike Tyson ‘spent $2.2m on bizarre gift for former wife’ just one year before they divorced

Tyson is said to have splashed out on a lavish purchase.

Mike Tyson once spent $2.2 million on an interesting gift for his former wife, according to several reports, the year before they got divorced.

‘Iron Mike’ is renowned as one of the greatest boxers of all-time, with his professional career spanning 20 years between 1985 and 2005.

Away from the ring, Tyson has been married three times, including to American actress Robin Givens.

The pair were married in 1988 but divorced the following year, having taken part in an infamous joint interview in which Givens claimed she was ‘very, very much afraid’ of Tyson and described him as having a ‘volatile temper’.

For his part, ‘Iron Mike’ claimed Givens tried to ‘steal’ his possessions, amid a series of other accusations thrown at each other by the couple.

One possession he did buy for his wife, according to several reports, was a 24-carat gold bathtub, which is said to have been worth an astonishing $2.2 million.

But while you may be wondering how a bathtub could be worth several millions of pounds, it turns out Tyson was apparently able to turn it over for a huge amount as well – albeit a far smaller sum than what he bought it for.

The gold bathtub was allegedly snapped up by billionaire Derwood Hodgegrass in 2013 for a sum of $1.2 million – although there were said to be some doubts that the tub actually belonged to Tyson.

Speaking to reporters about what he planned to do with his new possession, Hodgegrass said: “Oh, it’s just a lark.

“Aside from the bathtubs of Marat and Jim Morrison, I’d venture to say few bathtubs have this kind of provenance.

“I picked it up at nearly half the cost, and gold and is more valuable today.”

The Daily Express claim that the bathtub was bought as a Christmas gift for his wife, with the pair then divorcing the following year.

Getty

Tyson now takes a far different approach to money, once stating: “I’m not even interested in being that person again. I don’t want to be that flashy guy with the flashy houses.”

Tyson is due to step back into the boxing ring later this year when he takes on Jake Paul, with the fight due to be streamed by Netflix.

The bout was originally slated to take place in July, but had to be postponed indefinitely after Tyson suffered an ulcer flare-up on a flight. It will now take place on November 15 in Arlington, Texas.

Former UFC star Henry Cejudo claims that Tyson, who has only fought once since his 2005 retirement from professional boxing, is set to earn ‘close to about $20 million’ from the bout.