Mike Tyson has claimed he thought social media star Hasbulla ‘was a baby’ during their infamous encounter.
Hasbulla is 22-years-old and has a rare type of dwarfism, with a press conference against rival Abdu Rozik seeing him go viral on social media.
Tyson picked up Hasbulla during a viral exchange[/caption]
The Dagestani star has been heavily involved in the combat world and once met heavyweight legend Tyson during an appearance on his podcast HotBoxin’.
Hasbulla threw punches at the heavyweight legend before he picked him up and began cradling him, in an exchange which generated huge interest on social media.
Tyson has now clarified exactly why he acted as he did during an interview with boxing legend Andre Ward.
He said: “Yeah. I thought it was a baby. No, no. I did not know.
“That’s how I am with children, I’m hugging on this guy, and he’s like 26 years old[sic].”
The misunderstanding was simply on the part of Tyson, with the encounter seeing Hasbulla’s profile rocket further.
He has since been linked with an extraordinary fight in the UFC, given his close friendship with Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev.
UFC president Dana White has even discussed it, but it appears unlikely given the current stance of Hasbulla on a potential fight.
Tyson has always been in the spotlight, given he is considered one of the greatest boxers of all-time.
The heavyweight legend sent records tumbling in his frightening prime, where he once reigned as undisputed heavyweight champion.
Tyson admitted it was nothing more than a mix-up on his behalf[/caption]
He eventually retired in 2005 after a decline in form saw him lose in his final battle with Kevin McBride, when boxing fans thought they’d seen him for the last time.
But he returned in an astonishing exhibition clash with Roy Jones Jr in 2020.
Now in even more incredible fashion, he will return in a competitive professional bout against Jake Paul on November 15.
And the 58-year-old simply believes it is down to him whether he wants to risk his health by fighting on.
“I could be waiting on a check every day from cannabis,’’ Tyson said. That’s bulls*** for me. I’m a man.
“I want to go out there and I want to expose myself to risk. Sometimes I want to see who I really am.
“I want to see what I’m really made out of. I want to perform in front of the world.
“To me, that’s all I ever knew how to do since I was 14. This fight is not going to change my life financially enough.
“This is just what I want to do.’’
