Mike Tyson once allowed serial killer into his gym before he was handed death sentence

Mike Tyson was once unwittingly interviewed by a notorious serial killer who was handed a death sentence, just weeks after their encounter.

At the peak of his powers, former heavyweight champion Tyson was a media phenomenon following his ruthless displays in the ring.

Every reporter wanted a piece of the boxer as he reigned over the heavyweight division but on one occasion, he was duped by a serial killer.

In fact, he allowed him through his doors, just weeks before his arrest.

A few weeks prior to his capture, murderer Dale Hausner gained access to the boxer's gym, having killed eight people and injured 19 people in Phoenix, Arizona.

Hausner interviewed Tyson as part of his sports journalism job, leading to questioning from the police a couple of days after their exchange.

Police questioned Tyson regarding his brief meeting with Hausner, with the boxer later describing him as "a small guy, but a nice guy."

Hausner was eventually sent to prison for life after being given six death sentences and hundreds of years in prison for killing eight people and attacking 19 others in a series of random shootings in the Phoenix area.

He was later found dead in his death row prison cell.

Tyson knew nothing about the situation as he fielded questions from Hausner.

Image credit: Getty

Speaking to Jimmy Kimmel, the former world heavyweight champion recalled his interaction with a police officer over his meeting with Hausner.

“I came outside, and I was talking to the guy [policeman]. He showed me the picture of me and the guy because it was on his website," he said.

"He said, 'Do you know this gentleman?' And I said, 'Well sir, I don’t know, I was promoting a fight, if I must have said something to him, if I offended him, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that'.

"And he said, 'No, he liked you, Mr. Tyson. He didn’t like the 28 people that he shot and the eight that he killed'."

Tyson's brief encounter with Hausner, who committed heinous crimes, sums up his crazy life to date.