Mike Tyson has always been more than just a fighter — he’s a cultural figure with strong opinions on food, power, loyalty, and the business of boxing. In a revealing interview with Ring Magazine’s Manouk Akopyan, Tyson spoke candidly on topics ranging from ultra-processed food to President Trump, Dana White, and his personal philosophy on fighter pay.
On Dana White: “I’m Pro Boxing”
Tyson pushed back on perceptions that he’s a Dana White loyalist, framing his support for the UFC president’s move into boxing with Zuffa Boxing as purely sport-driven advocacy.
Everybody thinks that I’m pro Dana. I’m just pro boxing.
Tyson said he believes White should be in boxing, but made clear the endorsement isn’t personal — it’s about bringing more competitive infrastructure and money into the sport.
Open Markets Over Regulation
On the subject of the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act and fighter protections, Tyson took a free-market stance, describing the legislation as being in its early stages during his career and advocating instead for open competition to drive up fighter pay.
I want to have open markets. Whoever’s going to pay me the highest bid.
For Tyson, the answer to boxing’s systemic problems isn’t more regulation — it’s more competition, more clubs, more fights, and more legitimate money flowing to the fighters who earn it.
One Word on Trump: “Loyalty”
Asked what makes President Donald Trump a unique figure in his life, Tyson kept it short: “Loyalty. Loyalty.”
The two go back decades. Tyson recalled the heyday of Trump’s Atlantic City casino era as a golden period for boxing — and for both men personally. “The whole world focused in on us every time we fought in Atlantic City at Trump’s casino.”
He offered a stark contrast when asked about Atlantic City today: “I went there to do a show. I was nervous. I thought I was going to get shot.”
On what boxing might look like if Trump had stayed more directly involved in the sport, Tyson was straightforward: “Boxing would be a lot better, and most boxers would perhaps have more money as well.”
The Fight Against Ultra-Processed Food
Tyson, who appeared in a Super Bowl advertisement promoting healthier eating choices and once weighed 350 pounds himself, didn’t exempt himself from criticism on this front.
I’m guilty of it too. We have to stop ultra-processed foods. It tastes so good because it’s so addicting — it’s a narcotic. Everything the FDA [approves] is narcotics.
It’s normal for us to eat it, especially if you’re in a low-income neighborhood. Processed, ultra-processed food is a necessity to us. We’re so happy to have that because it tastes good — and that’s how they get us.
The remarks aligned Tyson with a broader national conversation about food policy and the health impacts of the modern American diet, particularly in underserved communities.
