Mike Tyson empathized with Donald Trump, who is facing new levels of opposition after brawls broke out at his cancelled rally in Chicago last night, leaving two police officers injured and at least six arrested.

Tyson, who previously voiced his support for the Donald, told the NY Post earlier this week: 'Now he knows what it's like when everybody is out to get you. He's probably never known that to this extent.'

He also acknowledged the hatred exposed during the presidential campaign, but attributed it as an innate American characteristic without placing blame on any particular group.

The former heavyweight champion has shared a close friendship with Trump since he won a number of fights near Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, New Jersey in the late 1980s.

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Mike Tyson (right) empathized with Donald Trump (left) when he told the NY Post: ''Now he knows what it's like when everybody is out to get you. He's probably never known that to this extent'

Old pals: Tyson said he's enjoyed most of his successful fights at Trump's hotels, and the two have been friends since the 1980s

Trump bid a record $11million to have Tyson's fight against Michael Spinks in 1988 held at the Atlantic City Convention Hall near his hotel.

Tyson famously knocked Spinks out in 91 seconds, winning about $20million.

But Tyson experienced an onslaught of criticism and media scrutiny when he went through a divorce, parted ways with his manager and trainer, bit another boxer's ear, and was convicted of raping an 18-year-old girl.

He told the Post he understood what Trump was going through. He said: 'Now he knows what it’s like when everybody is out to get you. He’s probably never known that to this extent.

'I think it’s a pretty awesome thing that he’s doing so well. People are combining together to make sure he doesn’t win.

'He’s probably telling himself, "They hate me more than they hate [President Barack] Obama."'

He also added: 'There’s so much hate in this country. I don’t care what color you are. You’re just born with that hate in us.'

Last night's Chicago rally turned into a violent showdown between Trump supporters and 10,000 protesters who successfully shut down the event.

As the dust settled in Chicago, hundreds gathered in the Wright Brothers Aero Hangar near Dayton, where Trump condemned the bloody scenes as 'disgusting'.

But he defended his supporters as 'nice', and tweeted: 'The organized group of people, many of them thugs, who shut down our First Amendment rights in Chicago, have totally energized America!'

His speech today was disturbed after one crowd member tried to rush the stage and threw an object -it is unclear what - causing four Secret Service personnel to quickly leap to the stage in his aid.

The Republican candidate looked visibly rattled as the offending person was escorted out.

A man was escorted out of a Trump rally in Ohio today (pictured). Trump looked visibly rattled after an attendee threw an unidentified object at him

Tyson previously voiced his support for Trump in October, and said the two both shared a 'thrust for power'

In an interview with The Huffington Post in October, Tyson emphatically endorsed Trump for president.

Tyson, who converted to Islam while he was serving his three year sentence for raping an 18-year-old girl, had previously drawn comparisons between himself and Trump.

He told the Daily Caller: 'We’re the same guy. A thrust for power, a drive for power. Whatever field we’re in, we need power in that field. That’s just who we are.'

Tyson called attention to Trump's business acumen, and defended his friend over his more controversial statements regarding immigrants.

But Tyson also conceded Trump needed to work on delivering his messages.

The boxer from Brooklyn, New York began a run of his one-man show, Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth in Las Vegas.