Mike Tyson has told the story of how he dealt with one of the toughest sparring partners he encountered in his career.

The former undisputed heavyweight world champion was pushed every day in the gym as he prepared for his biggest fights against the likes of Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis.

Tyson was the undisputed heavyweight world champion early on in his careerGetty

There are many famous gym stories of how Tyson handled his sparring partners.

A couple of years ago though, he told Ryan Garcia about a particular boxer who gave him more than he bargained for.

Tyson recalled on his Hotboxin’ Podcast: “When I was training I would do eight rounds [of sparring], but as the fight got closer we would go to 12 rounds.

“The guy that gave me the most problems who I normally go in first with, I’d take him last now so he’d really push me.

“Their job is to kick my ass. If they don’t kick my ass, they’re fired.

“That’s just how it goes when you’re preparing for a fight like this.”

Tyson then explained how one specifics parring partner gave him trouble.

He continued: “When you’re in training, you’re in the gym, then this guy walks in, ‘This n***a again? F***.’

“This guy from Atlantic City, he would beat my ass every day.

“Like Muhammad Ali playing the bongos on my head, beat my ass.

Tyson was tested in the gymGetty Images – Getty

Tyson wasn’t the same fighter in the latter stages of his career, but is still returning to the ring at age 58 to take on Jake PaulGetty – Contributor

“One day I hit him and knocked him cold.

“Then everybody’s talking about how I knocked this guy cold, ‘Oh he’s knocking out sparring partners.’

“If only they knew he’s been kicking my ass every day and I got that one.

“That one knockout I got, but he’s kicked my ass for three months.

“They saw the one knockout, so they thought I was prepared.

“There’s just some sparring partners that can beat anybody in the world in the gym.

“But if he goes into a real fight with the lights, people eating popcorn and drinking beer, he freezes.

“I was like, ‘Why didn’t you fight him like you fight me?’

“He’d have been champion. But it’s just something about it, that’s why he’s not champion.”

Paul vs Tyson is set for November 15AFP

It’s not known exactly who Tyson was speaking about as he did not name the boxer he sparred with.

Similarly, the 58-year-old is now back in sparring preparing for his fight against Jake Paul on November 15.

However, once again he is keeping the identity of his sparring partners close to his chest with limited footage all that has emerged from his camp.