‘She hadn’t a notion’ - Mayo man’s Mike Tyson proposal goes viral

Last night's meeting with Mike Tyson was a terrifying experience in more ways than one for Mayo man Anto Brereton.

Many people wouldn't be fond of coming face-to-face with one of the baddest men and best punchers to have walked the planet, but it was the engagement ring he was holding close to his heart that was causing it to beat at a million miles an hour.

Thursday, December 4, was the anniversary of when the Ballyhaunis native first met his sweetheart, Emer Reilly. That night, as the pair made their way to Dublin, Emer had no clue what would transpire.

"I was planning how to propose and all that, I was like, we're going to Mike Tyson on the anniversary of us meeting, so we're as well to roll it all into one!

"When I asked her out, she was like, 'I only wish it was recorded in some way', so I thought, 'if we're getting engaged, it would be best to do it, have a photographer there that we had set up for the occasion.'"

In the buildup to the event, 'An Evening with Mike Tyson' at The Crowne Plaza in Dublin, Anto made contact with the event organisers to ensure that everything would be in place for the big moment.

The Galway-based soldier was full of nerves, but he kept his cards (and ring) close to his chest.

"I had it hidden away. I had that there since we left the hotel. I was hoping she wouldn't try and reach for my pocket or something!

"She hadn't a notion anyway. It was a perfect surprise, and it all paid off in the end."

The moment was surreal for Anto in more ways than one. A keen puncher with Ballyhaunis Boxing Club for a decade, the opportunity to meet Iron Mike.

With Emer going in to sit next to the former WBC Heavyweight Champion, the nerves were at their highest. What followed was a moment with memories that will last a lifetime.

The room erupted with cheers as Anto got down on one knee, and the noise went up another decibel when his now-fiancée said yes.

The pair were elated, as was a shocked Mike Tyson.

"He was buzzing, he was shaking his head, banging his fists up and down. He congratulated us and he was elated."

The reaction since the big night, both among friends and family as well as online, was something the couple couldn't have anticipated.

"Our phones have blown up between messages and phone calls. Some people knew it was happening, and there are other people who didn't.

"It would have been a surprise to them to see Mike Tyson and me on their feed and be like, what's going on here?

"Everyone had a very positive response to it, it's great, it's one for the sitting room mantelpiece anyway."

Now, the loved-up pair are in full-on planning mode for the big day, with venues, dates, seating plans and plenty more on the agenda.

However, one name will definitely be top of the guest list.

"Joe Egan, Mike's sparring partner who hosted the event with him, gave me his phone number and said he'd attend the wedding. He said he might be able to bring Mike, you never know.

"I'd happily take Mike Tyson at the wedding any day. I'll be getting people showing up to the wedding that I don't even know if Mike shows up."