Jaws struck at Iron Mike!
nd I was ttle fear
e if I go ation, it p. And it was still htening. my life, product orn in an ne – inner iolence inough your overcome
diver De g and hand years ago, wanted to n Morocco rs. tuous life, being diagr disorder, alcoholism, drugs charges and bankruptcy, Tyson was trying to prove he could be a role model.
De Gelder says: “Mike is very open and honest, especially about his fears, and has been through so much in his life.
“I think it’s testament to his character he’s persevered and come out on the other side, trying to improve himself and trying to be a better man.
“I saw him with his son and he really is trying to be this great role model. He wanted to teach his son about overcoming fear.
“He’s 54, his body is pretty busted up and he’s going into this fight, so he thinks if he can get into the water with this animal he’s terrified of, he will be able to get into the ring and conquer those fears. ” But training didn’t get off to the greatest start.
“I was so excited when I heard it was Mike Tyson,” says De Gelder. “Then I got into the swimming pool with him for our first dive and he was so bad.
“He wasn’t even kicking his legs, he was bear crawling through the water with his fingers.
“We went in baby steps. We only had four days in the Bahamas to do the dive and he wasn’t ready to move on through the stages but it got to a fear point where he said: ‘Enough to entrench talk, let’s just get me in the water.’ me so
“The first time he dived in the much I ocean we had him in a cage in can’t perform full chain mail. at my
“It might sound safe but being highest level.” in the cage can make you And after getting to know the really seasick, because it’s like former heavyweight champion, you’re in a washing machine. who does De Gelder reckon is
“And the chain mail, weighed scarier – Iron Mike or Jaws? about , it was heavy and He laughs: “Mike Tyson is uncomfortable. very sweet man. I got
“The next dive in the open along with him like a ocean was a lot easier for him. house on fire.
But he’s still not an incredible “He’s a very quiet diver.” guy until you touch on
While we’re not revealing something he’s interested whether Tyson managed to KO in and then you can’t Jaws, he admits gaining a lot shut him up.”
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from the experience. Tyson vs Jaws:
He says: “It allowed me to realise Rumble on the Reef I don’t have as much fear premieres on Discovery
as intimidation. It’s not fear of Channel UK, at 9pm on
getting beat. It’s fear of allowing Sunday.
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