Joe Egan, a boxer known for his resilience and toughness, recently opened up about his experiences training and sparring with a young Mike Tyson, a fighter who would go on to become one of the most feared heavyweights in boxing history. Egan’s reflection on their time together offers a rare glimpse into the grueling world of boxing and the extraordinary power Tyson possessed even at the tender age of 17.

When Egan first arrived at the Catskills, he had no idea who Mike Tyson was. “They said there’s a young heavyweight in the Catskills named Mike Tyson,” Egan recalls. “I hadn’t heard of him. I didn’t know who he was, but when I heard that this kid was knocking men out left, right, and center, I thought, ‘This guy must be something special.’”

At the time, Egan was just 17 himself, already a fighter with a few years of experience. He had left school at 14 and was working at nightclubs by the age of 15. Despite his lack of formal education, Egan had a belief that boxing would be his way to make a fortune. “I wasn’t good in school, but I believed boxing would be my ticket out,” he says. So, when he met Tyson, he thought he was ready for whatever the young champion could throw at him.

The First Meeting: The Calm Before the Storm

Upon arriving in the Catskills, Egan was introduced to a number of boxers and trainers, including Tyson, and he immediately noticed something different about the 17-year-old. “I thought, ‘He’s just a kid, I’ve fought grown men before,’” Egan recalls. “I figured I had the upper hand because I was bigger, older, and more experienced.”

However, that all changed when Tyson stepped into the ring. Egan was used to fighting men, but Tyson’s raw power and intensity were unlike anything he had ever encountered. “Mike was six months younger than me, but when I saw him in the ring, his physique was incredible—his biceps, his chest, everything,” Egan admits. “This wasn’t the same kid I met the day before. He was a beast.”

The Brutal Reality of Sparring with Tyson

The moment that truly shocked Egan came when he finally stepped into the ring with Tyson. He had been relaxed, thinking that his experience and size would give him the advantage. But as soon as the sparring session began, it became clear that Tyson was on another level. “I was completely unprepared for his power,” Egan says. “He knocked out several big, strong men before I even stepped into the ring, and I realized just how serious this kid was.”

Egan recalls the fear he felt as Tyson relentlessly pummeled his opponents. “I ruined a good pair of underpants that day,” he laughs. “There’s no way a 17-year-old should have that kind of power.” Egan lasted just a few minutes before being overpowered by Tyson’s ferocious punches. “I got battered for three minutes, got out, and then I went back in for another round,” he says. “It was pure madness. But there was something in me that believed if I could survive Tyson’s punishment, I could take anyone’s.”

The Mental and Physical Toll of Sparring with Tyson

Despite the brutal physical toll Tyson took on Egan, the experience taught him valuable lessons. “I took some serious punishment over the next two years with Mike,” he admits. “He made me cry many times. But every time, I told myself that if I could take Mike Tyson’s punishment, I could take anything.”

Tyson’s brutal sparring sessions were not just about physical strength; they were also psychological tests. Egan learned to endure both the pain and the mental strain. “Mike wasn’t just tough physically, but mentally too. He had this ability to break you down, and it was something I’d never encountered before,” Egan says.

Even though Tyson was pushing him to his limits, there was an undeniable bond between the two. Tyson took a personal interest in Egan’s growth as a fighter, offering advice and encouragement amid the beating. “Even though he was battering me, he was looking out for me,” Egan recalls. “Mike would call my mom and check in on me. It wasn’t just about boxing—it was about making sure I was okay.”

Sugar Ray Leonard’s Visit: A Test for Tyson

One of the most memorable moments of Egan’s time in the Catskills came when boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard visited the gym. Tyson, eager to impress his idol, unleashed a savage beating on Egan and others in the gym. “He wanted to show off for Ray Leonard. He battered us to pieces,” Egan says. Leonard, clearly impressed but shaken by the intensity of Tyson’s power, didn’t stick around for the post-workout meal.

But for Egan, the toughest moment came when Tyson, after another brutal sparring session, praised him for his resilience. “Mike said, ‘Joe Egan is the toughest white man on the planet,’” Egan recalls. “That meant a lot to me. I was never the toughest guy, but I could take a beating and keep going. That’s what Tyson saw in me.”

A Lasting Impact: The Influence of Tyson on Egan’s Career

Looking back, Egan says that sparring with Tyson was a life-changing experience. “I believe all fighters have to have a little bit of madness in them,” he says. “To get into that ring, to take that kind of punishment—it takes a certain kind of madness. Tyson had it, and he taught me that if I could survive in the ring with him, I could survive anything.”

While Tyson may have made Egan cry more than once, he also made him a better fighter. “I stayed with Mike for two years, and it was probably the best thing that ever happened to me as a fighter,” Egan reflects. “It made me mentally tough. It made me believe in myself, no matter what.”

Today, Joe Egan’s memories of sparring with Tyson are filled with a mix of pain, respect, and admiration. Tyson, even at 17, was a force unlike any other. For Egan, the experience was a test of both his body and spirit, one that would shape him into the fighter he became.