Mike Tyson was hypnotised up to three times a day from the age of 12 before his fights to become a ‘ferocious animal’.

Tyson revealed that he had been hypnotised from the tender age of 12 on the recommendation of his beloved trainer Cus D’Amato with the intention being to channel and control his aggression in the ring.

Appearing as a guest on the ‘Joe Rogan Experience’ podcast, Tyson revealed how he would be hypnotised throughout his amateur boxing career – in which he won two junior Olympic gold medals – culminating in an unprecedented meteoric rise to becoming the youngest heavyweight champion of all time in 1986, at just 20 years old.

Speaking to Rogan, Tyson claimed:

"Cus used to have me professionally hypnotised two or three times a day - before sparring, before training and before fights.

"My objective was to destroy."

Tyson eventually established himself as a monster in the face of his opponents after beating Trevor Berbick in 1986 to win the world title.

Tyson claims that he was taught early on to never feel any remorse inside the ring, instead, only focusing on “savageness”.

Tyson stated:

Lewis v Tyson

"Cus didn't like me to be sensitive like that. He wanted me to be emotionless.

“He said feelings mean nothing. Feelings have nothing to do with your life. The only thing feelings do is distract you.

“You relax, you go under, you totally focus on blackness and nothingness. I was only 12 when they started hypnotising me.

“They put you under and you just focus on savageness and that you are a ferocious animal.”

James ‘Buster Douglas would ultimately be the one to snatch the title away from Tyson in 1990; this turned into a torrid time for Tyson, who was to spend three years in prison after being convicted of rape in 1992.

On his return to boxing, Tyson went on to win the WBC and WBA titles in 1996 but in the same year lost to Evander Holyfield and infamously bit a chunk out of his ear in the rematch a year after.

Tyson hung up his gloves in 2005 after a defeat to Kevin McBride, leaving the sport with a record of 50-6, he remains one of the most celebrated heavyweights of all time.

Tyson, now 53, is looking to stage a comeback for several charity exhibitions in order to raise money in the process. He has posted a video of his training and it would seem as though he is just as ferocious as ever.

There aren’t many 53-year olds on the planet that can punch with that much power, so that puts him in a very unique category indeed.