Mike Tyson Speaks Out on Chris Brown: "He's Just a Baby"

USMagazine, Wednesday, April 22, 2009, 9:55am (PDT)

Mike Tyson - who was accused of beating Robin Givens and was convicted of raping Desiree Washington - says he can relate to Chris Brown, the 19-year-old singer who allegedly beat Rihanna.

"It's none of my business, but you know what I say about that? I understand the situation. I understand passion with young kids," Tyson, 42, tells MTV News.

"My personal opinion about that is, he's just a baby," adds the former heavyweight champ, who is the subject of a new documentary, "Tyson," out Friday. "He's just a little baby that don't know how to handle his emotions when it comes to a woman. And he probably hears this and thinks, 'I know how to handle my emotions'; we all think we do."

"But the fact [is]," Tyson continues, "you look at this person and you might be crazy in love, but we don't know how to handle those feelings."

Look back at Chris and Rihanna through the years

What could have led Brown to allegedly beat Rihanna, 21? Tyson blames a "pimp mentality" that is prevalent among young people. "Now you're a fly guy and a cool guy [you think] ... you have to be hard like that," he says.

In the MTV interview, Tyson appears contrite about his history of violence towards women.

See celebrities who have survived abuse

"You can't abuse them," he tells MTV. "It's really sick what you [can] do. She has a space in your heart and you believe you care about her more than anybody in the world.

See photos of Rihanna through the years

"Do I think it's right to beat up a woman? No hell no," he adds. "Have I hit a woman before? Hell yeah. Was I wrong? Hell yeah. I'm a product of that environment. Do I regret ever doing that? Hell yeah. Would I do it again? Never."

See more celeb scandals

Brown -- who has pleaded not guilty to two felonies, assault and making criminal threats -- is due back in court April 29.