Mike Tyson, the legendary boxer, dropped jaws on Shaquille O'Neal's Big Podcast when he casually mentioned he was bitten by a lion and lived with tigers in his house.
The former heavyweight champ's love for animals is well-known, but Tyson took it to a whole new level in the 1990s. He kept Bengal tigers, lions, and cougars as pets, treating them like oversized house cats.
During the podcast, Tyson stunned the hosts with a matter-of-fact statement: "The lion bit me, not the tiger." This revelation left Shaquille O'Neal and co-host Adam Lefkoe in stitches, struggling to process what they'd just heard.
Tyson didn't stop there. He went on to explain how he managed his wild menagerie:
"I bought the house next door for them. The tigers didn't like the lions in the house, so I left that house to them and the tigers stayed with me."
O'Neal, himself a multi-millionaire athlete, couldn't help but quip, "That's what happens when you have too much damn money." The remark sparked laughter all around, highlighting the absurdity of Tyson's situation.
Looking back, Tyson now realizes the danger of his choices. He owned up to three Bengal tigers at one point and even slept with them. But he's since admitted it was a risky decision, noting that tigers are too unpredictable for domestic environments.
Tyson's wild experiences didn't just stay at home. They made their way into pop culture when he appeared in "The Hangover" movie, playing a version of himself alongside one of his tigers.
This latest revelation adds another chapter to Tyson's larger-than-life story, proving once again that truth can be stranger than fiction – especially when it comes to Iron Mike.
