Mike Tyson Interview: “I’m not looking to be a chairperson, I’m not looking to be ambassador”
By: Matthew N. Becher
Mike Tyson is the most recognizable face on the planet. He rose to boxing stardom in the early 80s, becoming the youngest heavyweight champion ever. His insane punching power, brashness and bravado made him a household name. It also made him public enemy number one and the Baddest Man on the Planet.
Tyson has since grown up, he is currently 50 years old and raising his family in the suburbs of Henderson, Nevada. He has very little involvement in the sport that made him a superstar and keeps busy with work and different ventures. He is currently starring on the Fox television program “Super Human”. His cartoon series “Mike Tyson Mysteries” is set to begin its 3rd season on The Cartoon Network. Mike also just released a new book “Iron Ambition: My life with Cus D’Amato”.
Mike can be seen every once and a while at a boxing match, but very rarely is he in the public eye as he once so heavily was. Yesterday afternoon I was able to speak with Mike one on one and ask him a few questions about his early life in the sport, what he thinks of things now, and what the future may hold for him.
Boxing Insider: What was the boxing scene like in the Hudson Valley and Catskills in your teenage years?
Mike Tyson: All excitement. It was very exciting and I always looked forward to it and it was a really great part of my life.
Boxing Insider: Since you are a boxing historian, do you have any idols that may not have gotten the recognition they deserved?
Mike Tyson: A lot of guys like Jack Dempsey, Rocky Marciano, Larry Holmes, guys like that.
Boxing Insider: In your career as a fighter, is there anything you would have liked to change?
Mike Tyson: Shit, wish I won them all.
Boxing Insider: Can todays state of boxing return to its glory days?
Mike Tyson: I think so. Well, we have a great heavyweight out now named Anthony Joshua. And I think he can change the whole thing around.
Boxing Insider: It’s been a year since the passing of the great Muhammad Ali. Ali used his celebrity to speak up on many social views. Do you see yourself ever stepping into the now empty spot that Ali has left?
Mike Tyson: Well that is not what I want to do in life. What I want to do in life is just be a respectful man and just take care of my children and guide my family in the right direction. I’m not looking to be a chairperson, I’m not looking to be ambassador or anything in that capacity.
Boxing Insider: Right now, who would you say is your favorite fighter to watch?
Mike Tyson: Wow, I got Errol Spence as one of them. I like the Charlo brothers, I like to see them fight. I like to watch Shawn Porter fight. I love watching Lomachenko, he is my favorite fighter so far.
Boxing Insider: Who do you have as an overrated fighter?
Mike Tyson: Overrated? I don’t know, they are all fighting real good now. They just need to fight each other, that’s all
Boxing Insider: The biggest fight that is happening right now is Canelo vs. GGG, but the biggest fight being talked about is Mayweather vs. McGregor. What do you think that fight does to Mayweather’s legacy?
Mike Tyson: I don’t know, its gonna make him a lot of money and that’s what he likes to do. So he’ll make a lot of money in that fight. That’s the best thing to happen for boxing.
Boxing Insider: Do you think boxing took more from you then you got in return?
Mike Tyson: No, it gave me everything that I took from it. It was all fair.
Boxing Insider: Anything going on with you in the boxing world?
Mike Tyson: No boxing stuff, just television and movies and TV.