Mike Tyson has revealed that American actor Brad Pitt was once scared that he would be beaten up by the former heavyweight boxing champion.

Back in the late 1980s, Tyson bumped into the then-unknown actor, who was on a date with the boxer's estranged wife Robin Givens.

According to RadarOnline, the 47-year-old retired sportsman has claimed in his new book Undisputed Truth that "stoned" Pitt pleaded with him not be beaten up.

"You had to see the look on his [Pitt's] face," Tyson wrote. "He looked like he was ready to receive his last rites."

Tyson's new book is expected to be released on November 12.