Mike Tyson has revealed he took inspiration from Mussolini for his recent collaboration with Madonna.

The former boxer and Madge working together on music sounded unlikely enough, but now he has offered the even more surprising detail that he looked to the former Italian fascist leader for tips on how to perform.

He told Rolling Stone of the musical hook-up: “Madonna calls you and tells you to come somewhere, you go. I didn’t know what the hell I was going there for. I’m just there having a good time and hanging out with Madonna.

Mike Tyson
(Ian West/PA)

“She has her producer there and I go into the studio and I didn’t know if she wanted me to talk or rap. I just go in there and start talking. I’m talking about my life and things that I have endured. I’m saying some really crazy stuff. It was really intense.

“When I did it, I think about being some guy like [Benito] Mussolini and they’re really arrogant, but you try to come from a positive perspective and be uplifting. You watch Mussolini on television – even though we don’t understand what he’s saying – he is so mesmerising. I look at myself in that way.”

Mike went on: “I know people may say ‘this guy’s a fascist’ and all this stuff, but man, you can take positivity from watching him.

Benito Mussolini
Mike’s inspiration, Mussolini (PA)

“No wonder why Hitler was attracted to him. This guy’s a hypnotic figure. There’s so much pride behind what he’s saying. I’m not even Italian and I feel the pride he’s projecting. He had that street swag; he was doing this stuff with his hands and moving his head before it was even hip-hop.”

Back on the subject of Madonna, Mike described her as “an awesome, serene person”, saying: “She’s trying to do something that since the beginning of time has been the most difficult thing to do: Save the world.

“I commend her for that. She is a fighter in every sense of the word and from an intergalactic perspective.”

The collaboration was for new track Iconic from upcoming album Rebel Heart, and the experience has spurred The Hangover star Mike on to take his career in a different direction again.

He said: “Doing the song with Madonna makes me think this [music career] could really happen. Most guys that come in there drink a bunch of liquor or smoke 100 blunts. I just went in and boom, one take. Everyone thought it was cool.”