Mike Tyson’s Haunting Question Makes Oscar-Nominated Actress Open Up About Physical Abuse

“I learned how to box because I used to get beat up a lot.” Rosie Perez once recalled how her love for the sweet science kicked off. The Oscar-nominated actress is a fighter, both on-and-off the screen, and on most days, you could notice her spilling her views on boxing fights, even the low-stakes ones. But it’s her resilience despite her troubled past that made her a household name, and she touched upon the same when she sat down with Mike Tyson.

Perez, 60, first seized headlines with her role in Spike Lee’s ‘Do The Right Thing’ and burst into stardom with Peter Weir’s ‘Fearless’. This paved the way for her success in Hollywood. But her way to the top was not easy, as she had a tough early life. Her aunt took her in and raised her after she was abandoned as a child. She also had to go through multiple group homes and foster care, where she faced abuse and challenges.

So, a few days ago, when Perez spoke to Tyson, 58, the latter asked her, “What haunts you?” This plunged the Hollywood actress into her old memories as she disclosed, “Memories of the physical abuse I endured and some of the awful things that I have done to people. It fears me and inspires me.”

In addition, the Bushwick native related teaching from the days when she was learning Shaolin Kung Fu. She said, “When I started studying Shaolin kung fu, it was the first time someone told me, “You need your fear. Fear is your friend. You have to learn to walk with it and talk to it and manage it and understand that it’s your superpower.”

Tyson, at 50-6, also agreed with the lesson. He admitted learning the same and laid out the distinction between fear and your own mind. He declared, “I was taught this, Rosie. Fear is your friend, but your mind is not, so you have to control your mind. Most people are not in control of their minds. Their mind is in control of them.”

Interestingly, Perez will be in attendance for ‘Iron Mike’s coming fight with Jake Paul. She will take up the duties of an analyst and will be giving fans round-to-round updates. Tyson is fighting under professional boxing rules for the first time in close to two decades and would be under pressure because of his age and health concerns. However, the former world champion remained stoked and excited for the fight, as he has converted his fear into motivation.

Mike Tyson: Man of Fear

The Brooklyn native told former UFC champions Henry Cejudo and Kamaru Usman how he built a relationship with fear. He admitted, “I know how to control my fear. My fear doesn’t dominate me, you know? I have a relationship with my fear… My mentor taught me to understand fear.”

Tyson also revealed that he based his life on fear—fear of failing and fear of succeeding and taking a wrong turn afterward. But the ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’ has utilized this fear for good. He has also pointed out in the lead-up to the fight with ‘Problem Child’ that he didn’t fear him. Why? Because his opponent has been in the ring before. But it remains to be seen how he fares in the fight as Perez watches the action up close.

What do you make of this interaction between Mike Tyson and Rosie Perez? Let us know in the comments below.