An interesting online debate has recently emerged: what would it realistically take for humans to defeat a Silverback gorilla? On platform `X`, many users speculate that a group of 100 determined individuals could potentially overpower a 300-500lb gorilla. However, a significant number disagree, viewing such an attempt as a suicidal mission given the gorilla`s immense power. A Silverback possesses raw strength, can lift ten times its body weight, and boasts a bite force of 1,300 PSI, among other incredible physical capabilities.
Long before this digital discussion, and even prior to his recently announced bout with Jake Paul, the legendary boxer Mike Tyson reportedly had his own unique idea for challenging nature`s heavyweight champion at a zoo in New York.
Mike Tyson once reportedly tried to bribe a zookeeper to fight a Silverback gorilla
In 1986, Mike Tyson was just 20 years old and at the pinnacle of the boxing world, having become the youngest heavyweight champion in history – a record that still stands today. Around this period, `Iron` Mike and his then-wife, Robin Givens, visited the Bronx Zoo in New York City.
According to Tyson, he bribed a worker at the zoo to reopen the area around the gorilla enclosure specifically for them during their visit.
Speaking in a 2020 interview with The Sun, Tyson recounted the experience: “When we got to the gorilla cage there was one big silverback gorilla there just bullying all the other gorillas.”
As a self-proclaimed animal enthusiast and someone who had faced bullying himself growing up in Brownsville, Tyson, in his fighting prime, felt an urge to confront the dominant male gorilla.
Describing the Silverback gorilla, Tyson noted, “They were so powerful but their eyes were like an innocent infant.”
Then came his audacious proposal to the zoo attendant:
“I offered the attendant $10,000 to open the cage and let me smash that silverback’s snotbox!”
The zookeeper`s response, as simply put by Tyson: “He declined…”
This anecdote resurfaced and resonated with fans online, with one user on platform X commenting, “If I trust any human to stand a chance in this scrap… it’s prime Tyson.”
Mike Tyson is still making history at 58
It`s been nearly four decades since Tyson`s unconventional proposal to fight a gorilla fell through. However, Tyson, now 58 years old and well past his professional prime, has shown he hasn`t lost his desire for a challenge, competing in the ring twice since revealing the gorilla story.
In 2020, he participated in an exhibition boxing match against fellow legend Roy Jones Jr. More recently, in November of last year, Tyson made history again by facing Jake Paul in his first professional fight since 2005. The event, streamed globally on Netflix from a packed AT&T Stadium, became the most streamed sporting event of all time, attracting an average of 108 million viewers worldwide.
Despite the significant age difference, Tyson bravely fought for the full 8 rounds against the much younger and faster social media star. Though he lost by unanimous decision, many viewed his performance as a moral victory, showcasing his enduring spirit and legendary toughness.
