In Mickey's darkest hours...

Except, its not.

@soonerpike697 100% his fault? Mickey didn't burn the caravan down, you know.

Bricktops men killed his mother by burning her Caravan but it was actually Mickey's fault, he agreed to fight in Bricktop's boxing matches that were underground and agreed to go down both times but didnt do as he was told to do, he had to know that there would be consequences for not losing like he was supposed to do, i think it was two times that he knocked someone out instead of losing when he was told to do so, he agree to fight for Bricktop and was being paid after all.

If Mickey had lost twice his mother would not have been killed, he brought that on himself, he cost Bricktop a lot of money and made him look foolish, never apologized, he violated his contract with a gangster and thats a fatal idea once let alone twice, its noy like he could call the police and explain the situation to them and get Bricktop arrested after all, they would both get arrested and raided, not good for anyone.

I think after he watches his mother burning to death he realizes that it was his fault, he could have taken the money and gone down and now she was dead, Bricktop was already having a bad week with Gorgeous George being injured and with other problems, Mickey didnt help by knocking two guys out and losing him a lot of money, not to mention Bricktops's bosses or Capos basically were on his case about losing money and Bricktop had to punish Mickey and make an example out of him.

So Mickey winning twice instead of losing basically pushed things too far, he got his mom killed, he could have easily moved from his campsite with the other Pikeys instead of letting Bricktop continue to force him to lose or fight for him again, he had no reason to break his deal with Bricktop and win, Bricktop did nothing to provoke him, he also put Tommy and Turkish into danger by winning.

So he was a prick, his pride and desire to win got his Mum killed, would be funny if Bricktop's criminal friends tracked him down and killed him and his friends after the dust cleared, because he cost them money when he won and after Bricktop was killed, they lost the dogfights and the underground boxing that Bricktop ran, some guys might have lost a lot of money after that.

I'm assuming most people saying "why didn't Mickley just..." have never met a pikey. They're a different type of person altogether, they have their own ways, their own society. They're also fairly untouchable as shown in the film. You might win a battle with some pikeys but you'd never win the war.