Mike Tyson Claims He Tried to Pay $10,000 to Fight a Bully Gorilla at a New York Zoo

According to The Sun, Tyson, 52, told the U.K. paper that he tried to pay a zookeeper $10,000 for the chance to punch a silverback gorilla that was bullying other apes.

Get push notifications with news, features and more.

Tyson said this exchange happened in the late 80s, after he paid to have a New York zoo opened up solely for his then wife Robin Givens and himself — so he could take Givens on a romantic, private date.

This lavish gesture was interrupted, according to Tyson, by an alpha gorilla that was bullying other gorillas.

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

Thankfully, no gorillas were punched during Tyson’s private zoo stroll. This confession has surprised many of the Tyson’s fans, since the boxer is known for being an animal lover.