Michael Jordan's fearlessness was legendary. But a new book claims to have portrayed an instance in which the arguably greatest basketball player ever was afraid. And with good reason.

And no, it wasn't on the basketball court.

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Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson's longtime friend and manager Rory Holloway wrote about an encounter between Tyson and Jordan in a new book titled, "Taming the Beast: The Untold Story of Mike Tyson," Australia's news.com.au reported.

Holloway wrote about a night in Chicago at a restaurant when he and Tyson were having dinner with Jordan, then-Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka, then-Chicago Bears defensive end Richard Dent and boxing promoter Don King.

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Holloway wrote that the dinner took place sometime after Tyson divorced his first wife, actress Robin Givens. According to Holloway, Tyson still was not over Givens, who had dated Jordan prior to meeting Tyson.

That was the underlying cause behind a Tyson tirade directed at Jordan that ventured off at Ditka, according to the book:

"Mike Tyson's sitting there with his drink of choice, a Long Island Tea, and when he drinks his real feelings come out. ..." Holloway wrote.

"I'm telling the server to water his drinks down 'cause I see where this is going. Mike stares across the table at Michael Jordan. He says, 'Hey man, you think I'm stupid? I know you f***ed with my b***h.'

"Jordan looks like he just seen a ghost. 'I know you messed with her,' Mike says. 'You can tell me.'

"Jordan, it's obvious he just wants to get up and run. He wants no part of this. Mike turns to Ditka. 'Man, you think somebody scared of you, all that racist s**t you been talking?' He says to Dent, 'Y'all scared of this damn white man, Richard? He ain't nobody. You gonna let him talk that way?'

"It was a circus, for real, that night. Don King trying to change the subject. Me and John trying to hold Mike down. Mike telling everyone he's going to bust Jordan's ass. Jordan's dressed sharp as always and he can't get out of there fast enough."