Mike Tyson: Anthony Joshua must stay clear of the distractions success can bring

A similarity between Tyson and Joshua can be drawn as both men found boxing after difficult spells in their youth.

By his own admission, Tyson lived in the “hell hole” neighbourhood of Brownsville in Brooklyn, New York. Joshua meanwhile, pled guilty to possession of cannabis with the intent to supply just over a year before he won Olympic gold in 2012.

Tyson, whose father had left and mother had died by the time he was 16, found Cus D’Amato – who became his legal guardian, taught him to read and write, and coached him on the road to boxing stardom.

His new book, ‘Iron Ambition’, focuses on his relationship with D’Amato, who Tyson says forced fighters to visualise success and believe in themselves.

“I never had a father figure but I knew what it was like to have a father being with Cus,” he said. “My objective was to make my father happy. He wanted to have a heavyweight champion of the world and that’s what I wanted to do.

“That’s the 25-million-dollar question. How did I get hooked to that old white Italian guy? What did he say to me to make me believe this other life is over and I stick with the boxing world? He made me worship the fighters.

“I came with no self-esteem and he turned me into a megalomaniac. I know he gave Muhammad Ali instruction for the George Foreman fight. He was an amazing man.

“He’d give you the reaffirmation that you are the greatest fighter in the world and no man can beat you.”

D’Amato died a year before Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion in history at 20, beating Trevor Berbick in two rounds he believes his tough late trainer would have called “sloppy”.

Iron Mike had fought 28 times in 20 months as a pro to land the WBC title but concedes the loss of the man guiding him ushered in a “dark period”.

“Everyone else was trying to get me for their own reasons, I was just lost without him,” added Tyson, who took champagne to D’Amato’s grave after his title win.

“I’d be a bum, imagine what I’d be without meeting that guy. I don’t think I’d be in good shape. I’m so happy I met that old gentleman. He was a good man.”