Mike Tyson reveals real reason he had tigers as pets as former champ opens up on ‘insecurities’ and controversial life

BOXING legend Mike Tyson has revealed his decision to buy pet tigers stemmed from ‘insecurities’ he had about himself.

The former undisputed heavyweight champion owned three white Bengal tigers during the ’90s and early 2000s.

Mike Tyson had three white Bengal tigers during the ’90s and early 2000sMike Tyson bought the big cats while he was doing time in prison

Tyson’s acquisition of the big cats, Kenya, Storm, and Boris, epitomised his excessive spending habits before he squandered his riches.

And during a recent episode of his Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson podcast, the 54-year-old admitted he bought the predators because he wanted to receive love from a wild beast.

He said: “[It was] all down to my insecurities, I guess. I wanted something that ferocious to love me.”

Iron Mike added: “If you look at him and he see you like acting weird, he’s going to kill you. He don’t want you, only wants to be alone.

“And I want that to love me. Exactly, hundred percent.”

Tyson, who returned to the ring last November for an exhibition bout against Roy Jones Jr, arranged to buy his tigers when he serving time in prison for his 1992 rape conviction.

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He said: “This is how it happened, I was in prison and I was talking to one of my friends who I bought exotic cars from.

“He was saying a friend he knew owed him money.

“And he said, ‘If he doesn’t pay me any money I’mma take some of these cars and trade them in for some animals.’

“I said, ‘What kind of animals?’ He said, ‘Horses and stuff.

“‘Mike they have some nice tigers and lions too. If you got one of those that would be so cool.’

“I said, ‘Yeah that would be true. Why don’t you order me a couple? I’m getting out in a couple of months.’

“So when I got out I came home and I had two cubs.”

Tyson was forced to get rid of Kenya after she ripped off the arm of a trespasser, who he paid £176,000 following the horrific incident.

He added: “Somebody jumped over my fence where the tiger was and jumped in their habitat and started playing with the tiger.

“And the tiger didn’t know the lady so it was a bad accident. She jumped in the property where the tiger was at.

“They tried to [sue me] until they found out she jumped over the fence and she trespassed the tiger.

“And listen, when I saw what the tiger did to her hand, I had a lot of money back then, so I gave her $250,000 or whatever it was.

“Because she was just f***ed up.”

After putting on an impressive display in his clash with Jones Jr, fan favourite Tyson is set to return to the ring later this year.

A blockbuster trilogy fight with Evander Holyfield is in the works, with SunSport understanding the former rivals will throw down in the Middle East.