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Mike Tyson came up against a number of metaphorical animals in the boxing ring during his career.

But the former Heavyweight champion of the world has claimed he once wanted to go toe-to-toe with a silverback gorilla.

'Iron Mike' told the Sun about the time he once paid a zookeeper to open the gates for him and wife at the time, Robin Givens , to take a private tour in the late eighties.

However Tyson then revealed how he offered the zookeeper £9,000 to open the cage inhabiting the gorilla so he could go in and fight it.

Tyson said: "I paid a worker at New York's zoo to re-open it just for me and Robin.

(Image: Rex Features)

"When we got to the gorilla cage there was one big silverback gorilla there just bullying all the other gorillas.

“They were so powerful but their eyes were like an innocent infant.

“I offered the attendant $10,000 to open the cage and let smash that silverback's snotbox! He declined.”

Tyson is known to be a huge animal lover, having kept pigeons as pets from a young age, before owning several tigers during the prime years of his career.

He became the youngest ever Heavyweight champion at the age of 20 in 1986, and developed a reputation as one of the most fearsome fighters in the sport.

(Image: Reuters)

However his lifestyle out of the ring was one dogged with controversy, as he was sent to prison for rape, and battled drug addiction.

Despite attending rehab on more than one occasion for his problems, Tyson is now a keen investor in the marijuana industry.

The 52-year-old owns a 40-acre ranch in California, used to grow cannabis.

He plans to hold a weed-themed music festival on the ranch, having become a supporter of the states legalisation of the drug.

Tyson previously admitted to being stoned when he fought Andrew Golota in 2000, but claimed it "didn't affect" him as he won in two rounds.