Mike Tyson Abandoned Mansion: Church To Rise Where Mike Tyson Partied, Credits Veganism For 140-Pound Weight Loss [Video]

Mike Tyson once was known for his lavish parties in what has become an abandoned mansion. But now those same lofty walls will become transformed into a church, reported the New York Daily News.

The heavyweight chose the Ohio estate because of its proximity to Don King, known for his boxing promotions. The former king of the ring added an enormous pool, gold plating, a Jacuzzi, mirrors on the ceilings, glittering chandeliers, and even a carpet patterned like a tiger.

https://youtu.be/_kN4SQto-Bg

After he abandoned the mansion, it was owned by various individuals before the decision was made that it was ideally situated for a church.

Photographer Johnny Joo took a tour and commented on what most amazed him about the castle-like former kingdom of Iron Mike Tyson.

“As I wandered the halls and rooms, I imagined the wild parties which must have taken place within these walls. The pool was probably my favorite — just because of how incredibly large it was and thinking how vibrant it was at one point in time. The room was bigger than three of my houses. It was pretty incredible to look at while standing at one end. Everything was so full of life and now simply collects dust.”

And just like that mansion, Mike Tyson’s career also turned to dust after he was declared guilty of rape and spent six years in prison. After he received parole, Tyson sold that mansion for more than a million dollars.

But it wasn’t financial fears or a desire to return to the boxing ring that provided Mike Tyson with his turnaround, he told ABC News. The boxer credits a vegan diet for his 140-pound weight loss and attitude change.

“I was real carnivilous [sic] when I was training for fights – a lot of meat, cheese, bread. I devoured everything besides pork. I used to eat a lot. As I got older I didn’t like the way I was feeling. I had a lot of arthritis, joint problems and I was morbidly obeast [sic]. My wife who was not my wife at the time, she changes her diet all the time. I says, ‘what is this you’re doing?’ And she says, ‘I’m eating vegan for a month or two weeks.’ Well, I said that’s what I’m going to do too, I want to do that. Cause I was just eating things without even figuring out what they are. “

And while he’s now lost the weight, Tyson feels that he’s always in danger of regaining it.

“I am a fat kid. If I don’t continue to watch my diet and exercise and take care myself I balloon to a lot of weight. I’ve always been a fat kid. I was 380 and now I weigh 240,” he declared proudly.

As far as that exercise goes, Mike works out daily.

“I may get up in the morning and do an hour of cardio. I do StairMaster or treadmill or TreadClimber for an hour and then I go to the gym around 7:30 and ride the bike for an hour and do my ab exercises, my chest and my light weights. Then I start it over again the next morning.”

Tyson isn’t the only celebrity to renounce animal protein for tofu. As the Inquisitr reported, other famous vegan celebrities include Carrie Underwood and Natalie Portman.

[Photo by Donald Miralle/Bongarts/Getty Images]