Mike Tyson is well acquainted with this rule. As a heavyweight boxer who, by the way, is currently plotting his comeback 15 years after retiring, he eats “tonnes of food” to fuel his workouts (we’re talking 3,000 to 4,000 calories daily.) He also swears by cardio, calisthenics and technique training and gets up at 4.am each morning to run 5-8km. Why so early, you ask? He likes to get ahead of his opponents (obviously.)
“I’ve been working out, I’ve been trying to get in the ring, I think I’m going to box some exhibitions and get in shape,” Tyson said in a recent interview with rapper T.I. “I want to go to the gym and get in shape to be able to box three or four-round exhibitions for some charities and stuff.”
After his early morning jaunt, he heads back home for brekkie, which is usually a combo of oats, milk and his vitamins. Then comes his second sweat sesh.
“I do two hours of cardio, I do the bike and the treadmill for an hour, then I do some light weights, 300, 250 reps. Then I start my day with the boxing thing, I go in there and hit the mitts, 30 minutes, 25 minutes, start getting in better condition.”
Immediately after the 10 rounds, Tyson switches to calisthenics which involves lots of reps using light weights. Worth noting, he doesn’t do this workout all at once. Instead, he spreads it out into three different sessions throughout the day.
– 2,000 squats
– 500 triceps extensions
– 500 push-ups
– 500 shrugs with 30 kilos (65 pounds)
– 500 neck crunches
– 30 minutes of neck bridges
As for lunch? It’s simple, rather than satisfying: 150 grams of white rice, chicken breast and a tall glass of orange juice. Next, it’s back to sparring (6 rounds with speed bag work and skipping), followed by more calisthenics.
Once Tyson is done, it’s snack time. Which, admittedly, is a bit odd. It’s 6 bananas and a protein shake to fuel his next bout of calisthenics and shadowboxing.
After hitting the shower, he’s ready for dinner. He grills up a 255gram sirloin steak and pairs it with pasta and a tropical juice. Then for his last workout… 30 mins to an hour on the exercise bike.
It’s all pretty extreme, but if you want to be the best in your sport at 53-year-old, it’s worth getting out of your comfort zone, eh?
“I know the art of fighting. I know the art of war. That’s all I’ve ever studied. That’s why I’m so feared,” Tyson said during a recording of his podcast, Hotboxin’ With Mike Tyson. “That’s why they feared me when I was in the ring. I was an annihilator. That’s all I was born for.”
We’re already praying for the next guy that gets in the ring with him!
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