Mike Tyson: My mother dying was one of the best things to happen to me | CLUB SHAY SHAY

You know, one of the best things that. ever happened to me is that my mother. died. Why was that? Cuz my mother would have. babied me babied me. There's no way I. would ever gotten to a street fight. No. way I would have ever been learned to. stand up for myself.

Hello. Welcome to another edition of. Club Shay Shay. I am your host Shannon. Sharpe. I'm also the proprietor of Club. Shay Shay. And one of the reasons that I. have a podcast that I love doing a. podcast is because of things like this. The guy that's stopping by for a drink. and conversation, maybe a smoke, but. we're indoors and we're not allowed to. smoke, once was considered the baddest. man on the planet. He's the youngest. heavyweight boxing champ Iron Mike.

Tyson. Mike, how we doing? I'm doing good, Mr. Sharpe. Let's talk. about your podcast. You have a podcast. called Hotboxin'. Yes. What type of guests do you have on. and what do you talk about? Um I have any kind of guest in the world. who's willing to come on and it's wide. open. Wide open, so you talk about. anything? Anything. You also have a cannabis. company. Now, let me ask you this. When. you were fighting, did you smoke marijuana when you were.

fighting? Only at the end of my career. Okay. The last the last. the last 2 years of my career, perhaps. So, did you ever think marijuana would. be so embraced like it is now and did. you think Mike Tyson would one day own a. cannabis company? I knew anything is possible and I know. like I know now, I know cannabis and. CBD is the future. Right. You can't avoid it.

So, had you known the benefits that you can. get from marijuana, would you have. smoked earlier in your career? I always knew the benefit, but it was. just illegal. It was just illegal. So, at no point in time could you So, even in the off-season, you couldn't. partake in marijuana. I can I understand. like getting ready for a fight, but. let's just say in between fights. You know, um. when my mind is cut off, it's cut off. I. don't want it. I don't If.

anything that I love, like my ice cream, anything, it becomes my enemy. I don't. even want to see it. What. Your bo- That's how That's how I got. over the weed thing. But then I started. smoking again back in I think what? '87. '97. Right. So, once you got back into it, it. was harder for you to say, "No, I don't. want to do this anymore." huh? I I couldn't stop anymore. You couldn't stop or you didn't want to. stop? Or had you lost.

Go ahead. I didn't want to stop. There's. no way I was going to stop. I'm a. totally different person without it than. I am with it. I've heard you say that the person that. you are now, sometimes you don't like. that person because this person that you. are now makes you feel weak. Do you believe that you could have been. a a champion boxer. back then if you were this person now? No. No, I couldn't have been. This. person um My my biggest asset is all my.

flaws. Without my flaws, I'm nothing. Really? Absolutely. So, back then you were so you were you. had a singular focus. You wanted to be. heavyweight champion of the world. But. also the things that made you great made. you a very flawed individual. Well, there's nothing wrong with being. flawed. It's only only thing wrong with that if. you don't know you're flawed. At the time, did you know your flaws?

Absolutely. You know your flaws and. you're born with them. You can't hide. from them. You can't run from them. What do you think was your biggest flaw? What do you think your biggest flaw was? Um. just not training. Not taking it serious anymore. But so, that was that was um. In the beginning, you took it serious. because I saw the documentary with you. and Cus when you was up in the.

Catskills, going to the Olympics, becoming the youngest heavy- You don't. become that, Mike, if you're not. serious, if you're not training. But listen, um. I was beating guys so easy. I was I. didn't have to train. I was beating. them. I wasn't taking it serious. And um. those are bad habits. So, you do you think if if you had lost. earlier in your career, do you think it. would have helped you become a better. fighter? It was no way I was going to ever lose.

early in my career. Why? I was just um. I was I had I was all defined by God. It wasn't going to happen. Jamie Foxx. is set to portray your character in a. limited series called Tyson. Is that. project still set to go? Yeah, I don't know anything about any. pictures and stuff. I'm just. I'm enjoying the moments I have now.

Is Mike Tyson misunderstood? I think we all are. Nobody knows who we are. Nobody knows. our shadows. Nobody know anything about. our collective consciousness or. uncollective cuz no one knows anything. about anyone. What is the I think we all. mis-. What is the bis- biggest misconception. that people have about Mike Tyson? I never knew they had one.

So, the per- the person that we see or. the person that we think we know, that's. who you are? I can never be that person cuz I. actually don't know who I am. If I knew. who I was, I'd be a very limited. thinking person at this stage of my. life. If. You had told me at 55 years old, "I know. who I am." You don't know who. I know what's going to happen tomorrow. I know it's not going to go any higher. than this. This is who I am. Okay, maybe. we don't know the future, but I think I.

would like to think at 55 years of age, you have a better understanding who Mike. Tyson is. than say when you were 15, say when you. were 25 or 40. Or when I was si- or when I become 60. We're all changing in different stages. of our life. Do you like the person that you're. changing into? Because obviously you say. you're different at 20 than you were at. 30, than you were at 40 and you're 55. So, do you like the evolution of Mike. Tyson?

Well, it isn't over yet. Mike Tyson is. going to be Mike Tyson. It's not that. I'm evolving or something. I just am. But you're constantly evolving. Would. you agree? We have to. That's human nature. Yeah, of course I am. But do you I know some. people. changing into things they don't like. They don't like what they're becoming. It seems to me that in the beginning, you didn't like who that person was, but. you seem to be more at peace with who. this person is. I would I would say that's true.

What. I was some of the documentary and I I. found your documentary very fascinating. because I think a lot of of our. childhood shapes who inevitably we. become as adults. Sometimes for the. good, sometimes for the bad. Do you. think if you'd have a a two-parent. household, a mom, a dad, brother and a. sister, loving family, you could have. became the heavyweight champion of the. world? You know what, um Mr. Sharpe, you know, one of the best things that ever.

happened to me is that my mother died. Why was that? Cuz. cuz my mother would have babied me. babied me. There's no way I would have. ever gotten to a street fight. No way I. would have ever been learned to stand up. for myself. But what But what Well, here's the thing. though, Mike. When your mom wasn't. around me, you probably wasn't still. going to encounter some of the people. that you had to stand up and protect. yourself against. But it was ordained by God for me to. deal with that. Do you I don't navigate my life. You.

think I think I navigate my life to be. in the heavyweight champion? No, I don't do that. That's God. Let me ask you a question. It seems to. me Now, Mike, you're you're you're very. devout in your faith. When did you. become like this? Listen, um. when you get around 51, 52, you start. you you start to begin. a better relationship with God. Okay. Because your expiration date is coming. up.

Who said it is? It might not You might. live another 51 years or 52 years. not. That's not happening. How do you know? You Hold on. You just told me earlier. that it's ordained by God. You don't. know. That's what you told me earlier. I'm not going to be no 150 years old. That's not going to happen. What about. 100? Uh anything's possible, but I'm not. going to 150 years old. When did you realize that you be- you. could become heavyweight champion?

When I was 14. And so, what made you think you become. you could become heavyweight champion of. the world? Well, I had a great mentor and he always. told me he used to have me do. affirmations. So, it seems to me, Mike, you're like at. a young age, you were easily convinced. He could have probably told you you. could fly a spaceship and you was like, "Okay, I'll fly a spaceship.". Abs- 100%. So, so okay.

at 14 Cus convinced you start boxing he. convinced you you can become heavyweight. champion of the world. I start winning. national championship. I started. breaking knockout record and I went to. the I lost to the to the Olympic gold. medal in the box office box office in. Texas and then eventually I became. heavyweight champion. Once I turned pro. my whole life started changing started. beating everybody beating them. just. viciously. and then everything has changed and I.

became champion. So you were supposed to go to the '84. Olympics am I correct? Yes. And that was arguably the greatest. team. You had Sweet Pea Whitaker, Meldrick Taylor, and Holyfield. Incredible team. Unbelievable immortals. man. That's the best. Yes. I think that. if I'm not mistaken I think they won. nine golds out of the 12 that was. contested. I think they won a silver and. a bronze. Man listen they they weren't playing.

around. Let's take the current state of. the heavyweight division. Let's just say. I take a prime Mike Tyson. What do you. say your prime your prime age was? How. old were you when you say Mike Tyson is. at his absolute apex? 22 Okay. Mike Tyson at 22 years of age. How does Mike Tyson beat Tyson Fury? That would be tough but you know. there was guys that dropped him that was. lighter than me. What was the gentleman. that dropped him that black guy? Yes.

Yes. Yes. The former cruiserweight champ. So. and he's not a harder puncher than I am. so I'm able to hurt the big guys. Right. But you got to get inside to get him. He's 6'9 and a half with a tremendous. reach. How do How does Mike Tyson. get inside? I'll try my best and do whatever I know. how to do. Let me ask you a question. Let's just. say you're a boxing trainer and and and.

the Bronze Bomber. comes to you say man look here I need. one more crack at Tyson Fury. I need you. to train me. to beat this man. How do you do it? I'm going with the jab he has to go all. out for 12 rounds with him. Can't give him no room to punch he has. to go all out for 12 rounds with him. He. can't give him no time moving around. can't allow him to think. He allows. Tyson Fury to think a lot. Give him a.

lot of time. Let me ask you a question is it because. he got into the game so late that he's. looking to load up with that one punch. The like the boxers that came from an. amateur background they understand okay. I got to stick the jab I got to stick. the jab but it seems to me he's just. looking to land that one overhand right. to turn the lights out of the party. But most of the guys that he's fighting. are not very elusive so it's easy to hit. them so very confident when he hits them.

he's going to knock them out. Right. Are you are you surprised that the. fights went the way they went? I'm always. entertained when those guys fight. I. think Deontay Wilder should fight some. other guys too. He'll He'll be doing. He'll do good man. I ain't throwing him. I ain't throwing him to get discouraged. He should be very happy and be ready to. fight somebody else right away. So. would you think Do you think it'd be a. better fight between Deontay Wilder and. Josh Anthony Joshua?

I would love to see that fight. Yes. Cuz. both both guys both guys are heavy. punchers. I think Joshua is. They're going to be winging. They're. going to be winging there ain't going to. be much style they're going to be. winging. Um. what about this this this new thing. that's fighting where and you. participated in one of them but you guys. were fighting. Roy Jones Jr. and yourself. What was your thought process going into. that fight? Were you trying to. were you trying to knock Roy out?

No I would never try to knock Roy out. but we were sparring we were fighting. but the thing is we started a new genre. and now we got guys like Logan Paul. doing this stuff. Right. So what do you think about that? What do you think about Logan Paul? I think Logan Paul. is a big shot in the arm for boxing. No. boxer ever. brought that many people to. to the network like Logan Paul did and. I think he's good for boxing he brings.

money to boxing. But don't you want to. see him fight like a fighter and not. fight ex-football players ex-basketball. players ex-MMA guys? I mean to give it. credibility Mike he's going to have to. fight someone in that genre. I think he should too but these guys. are very so emotional they want to fight. him so so bad they forget that he's a. trained fighter. Right. Right. And he's going to make them believe that. they can really beat this guy cuz he's. white with blonde hair blue eyes I'm.

going to kill them and then they go in. the ring and then something different. happens. Yeah what different happened is. that they get touched. You You had You had the famous You had. the famous saying everybody has a plan. until they get hit. Everybody says I'm. going to do this I'm going to bob I'm. going to weave I'm going to faint and. then he catches them and like hold on. wait a minute that didn't happen. They're They're sleeping. They're. sleeping. And I'm looking at guys and I. give them one assignment do not become a. meme. Mike how do they let the man put a.

face down in the on the canvas? Hey listen. that happens in fighting. I don't care. how good you are how great you are. if that don't happen to you sometime in. your career then you're not really a. fighter. Are you surprised that. obviously you were you were the biggest. name in boxing and you made a lot of. money. Are you surprised that the guys are not. as active as you I mean you fought one. year I think you fought like 13 14.

fights in a year. Guys fight now once a. year maybe once every 16 months. That's really bad for boxing because. boxing is entertainment and the name of. the game. you want the fans to say when am I going. to see that guy fight again? Right. Until you get until you have to like. that. you're not going to make the big payday. Until it's. until the time comes for the guy like. Errol Spence is known. to a to a housewife that don't even go.

out. to take care of the house like a maid. Right. If they know that's when they. know he made it. Well the thing with you. Mike is that you were willing to fight. You would fight a Holyfield you would. fight a Razor Ruddock you fought Bruce. Seldon you fought Frank Bruno. I. actually saw the Frank Bruno fight that. you fought. the second Frank Bruno fight. These guys. now seem to be more concerned with. undefeated as opposed to fighting Errol. Spence supposed to fight Bud Crawford. I'm tired of you fighting over here and. you fighting OVER THERE. FIGHT EACH.

OTHER. LISTEN AND I'm not ever going to say. anything disrespectful about fighters. but some people need to have enough. pride to say listen I want to go on a. tour being the best fighter in the world. who wants to fight me. Right. But the difference is Mike is. that you were willing to fight and you. were willing to put undefeated on the. line. But let me ask you this let me. take it from this approach. If I say. Mike. you can fight John Jon Jones and make 40.

million or you can fight the number one. contender. and fight 40 million or the number 15. contender and make 40 million which one. you going to choose? The easiest one. And so that Mike that's. what we're seeing that's what's. happening with boxing. We want to see the best fight the best. and we're not In the '80s. Hagler couldn't duck Hearns. Hearns. couldn't duck Leonard. He couldn't duck. Duran. He couldn't duck Iran Barkley.

Yeah listen. he had fought he had fought Duran lost. to Duran made Duran quit he ready to. fight Tommy Hearns. He went up in weight. won the junior. middleweight championship came back and. then beat Tommy Hearns Tommy Hearns in. the UNIFIED THE WELTERWEIGHT. THAT'S. BADASS. AND THE AND YOU LOOK AT the '70s when. the the big heavyweight Ken Norton. George Foreman Joe Frazier Muhammad Ali. there was no ducking you couldn't duck. anybody.

They fight you in six weeks after one. fight six weeks later they fight you. again. Yes. So why why can't Is Do you think. that's one of the reasons that boxing is. losing some of its appeal appeal and we. get guys that are YouTubers. That's why YouTubers are taking. cuz they're exciting they're more. exciting more so than they can't fight. but they're more exciting than the. fighters. Fighters are not fighting. competitive fighters they're the same. guys that walking over. So you want to You want You would like. to see.

Errol Spence Jr. and and Bud Crawford. fight. Absolutely and I want to see Errol. Spence go up to 154 and fight Charlo. brother too. These guys can't These guys. got to want to be immortal. I wanted to. be immortal I want the world to know my. name till the end of time. But Mike they. don't look at life but it seems to me. guys want to guys want to get the big. payday but they don't want to fight the. other big payday fighters. They want to. try to pick and choose and duck and. dodge. It's like I'm worried about I'm. worried about undefeated.

These guys are not making that much. money because they're not fighting those. guys. Right. These guys are not making. five four million dollars and three. three million dollars they're not making. that much money cuz they're not fighting. the right guy. Let Let me ask you a question. Who do you think pound-for-pound is the. best fighter right now? Wow that's tough. There's a of them out. there. You have to go with Canelo, but there's. still some of the young up-and-coming. lightweights. Canelo's almost on his way.

out. They got some other guy and what. David Benavidez, he's a great fighter. coming up. He'll be great. Man, there's. so many great fighters out there, man. But That's one thing they have to be. fighters out there. But who do you think. Do you think there's anyone out there. right now that can beat Canelo? Because. he's going from 154 to 160 to 168. He. basically wiped out three, four. divisions. There's some new guys out there that's. the young man David Benavidez. He's I. call him the man. monster. He's tough. I would love to see.

Canelo fight him. You think that fight. will happen? God willing, man. If they If it doesn't. happen, it'll be a You know what I mean? It'll be a. a shame to boxing. What What about if. Canelo fight one of the Charlo brothers? That would be a very interesting fight, too. So They make a lot of money. This These are big money fights you're. talking about. Right. But I thought that's what you get. Don't you get the Obviously, you want to. make a name for yourself. You want to go. down as an all-time great. But I thought.

it The objective in a sport is to make. money. Exactly. And you know what? These guys. hang around like they're buddies. If he. was your buddy, he'd fight you and help. you make some money. But here's the thing though. I got I got. I'm unblemished on my resume though. He. might put a blemish on my resume and. then you going to look at me different. and say I'm not the best. No, and then you become better. You become a better champion. You become. a better fighter. Life is about loss. As time goes on As.

time is going to go on, we lose. everything. We lose our hair, we lose. our teeth, and eventually we lose our. life. Life is all about loss. What Let me ask you this. What do you. think is the number one skill that a. boxer needs to be to be successful? The desire to win. That's it. That's all. All you need is the desire, the will to. win. If you Do you believe that was your best. attribute? Yes.

So what about What about the the right. hook to the body and the uppercut, the. combo? Nobody's been able to throw that. punch like you, Mike. Well, um. I'm very I don't know. Like you say, fighting is spirit. It comes with my. spirit. How did you How did you How did you. learn that punch? Because I've never. seen anybody I've never seen anybody put. that punch together like you put it. together. My mentor, Cus D'Amato, taught me. Well, it seemed like you were trying to. get you were trying to put that punch on. Roy. But Roy just Every time you got.

close, he grabbed you. Roy said you were. not going to put that that that that. uppercut on this mama child. Well, he's pretty smart. Well, he's. pretty smart. He knows how to avoid punches and. punishment very well. Let me ask you a. question. Is there another celebrity match that. you would like to partake in? I don't know. It's a possibility. People. keep asking me, but it's a possibility. Yeah, and you said money is a lot of. money in it. It truly is. But you know,

let's see. You know what I mean? God. willing. Mike. Let that sink in for a second. You're about to be 55 years of age and. people still want to see you fight. At. 55 as opposed to the guys that's in. their early 20s, mid to late 20s, they'd. rather see you fight than see them. Doesn't that say something about the. sport, Mike? That's That's only by the grace of God, brother. It has nothing to do with me or. the sport you. Only by the grace of God. Yeah, it has something to do with the. sport, Mike. They want to see a. 55-year-old that's been retired for.

almost two decades want to fight as. opposed to a 25, 26-year-old that's in. their prime. That does say something. about the sport, Mike. God is great, brother. Let me ask you a. question. Let me. People ain't clamoring for Michael. Jordan to come out of retirement, for. Kareem and Magic to come Larry Bird to. come out of retirement. You know why? Because Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, LeBron James, all these young guys are. doing what they do. So do you think. people would be lining up to spend $70.

to see Mike Tyson at 55 if Errol Spence. and Keith Thurman and Bud Crawford was. fighting? Listen, the thing is this is what it is, Mr. Sharpe. When I come. When I come When I come to do my show, I. bring a circus with me. Right. I bring a circus. People like to go to. the circus. Yes, if it They. And I'm paying for me to pay for the. circus I'm bringing. Mike, when you. fought when you were in your prime, there was no dillydallying around. You. had to get into your seat because if you.

bull jobbed around and you got where I'm. going to make a grand entrance, I'm. going to let everybody see me get in my. seat, the fight's over. You're going. back to your You're going back to. dressing room because you DON'T KNOCK. THE GUY OUT. PEOPLE IT WAS A There was. There was something about a heavyweight. fight. I've only been to a handful and. I've been to one of your fight. There's. nothing like it. I've been to a lot of. other guys' fight and I don't want to. call no name, but there's a buzz around. you, around the heavyweights. All the glory go to God, brother. That's.

all real. So. we don't have to get back into it, but. how did the incident in the mid-90s How. did that change Mike Tyson? How did that. Did that Do you think that two and a. half years away from the game of boxing? Do you think that had a bigger impact on. any other thing in Mike Tyson's life as. opposed in in boxing? Well, you know, I was never the same. fighter after I came out of prison, but.

it was just I was still um. learning life. I was You know, I was. making mistakes. I didn't stand on the. wall. I did something. But the the thing, Mike, is that your. background you I think the thing I read. was that by the time you were like 13, you had been arrested like 38 times. So Yeah, I was a [ __ ]. So I was a street. Street kids do, we get arrested. We rob. We rob people, we rob stores. Anyway we. get money, we get money in.

That's why I was arrested a lot of. times, but I got away a lot, too. Right. Can I Let me ask you this, Mike. Were you not the same boxer when you. came out or were you not the same person. when you came out? Pretty much both. Pretty much both, yeah. When When you. at boxing. Looked at boxing totally different. Let's get money. Let's get money and. let's try to change our life, get. married, and all that stuff. So prior to. that, you looked at boxing as.

entertainment. You You know money came. along with it because you had tons of. money. You had the white tigers and you. had the Rolls-Royces and you had the big. homes, the palatial estates. I didn't have the love for it no more. I lost the love for it. What When you were incarcerated, did you. spar Did you do any shadow boxing? Did. you do hit the heavy bag? What Did they. allow you to do any of that in there? They allowed to use my my I couldn't use. my my my body as a weapon. I couldn't.

make my body strong cuz it's a weapon. That's what they told me. So in my my In. my my cell, I would just box all day and. run in place for 2 hours. Were you Were you Were you Is. Were you isolated or were you in gen. pop? I was in population, but I was isolated. a lot. I got into a lot of altercations. Hold on. You mean that Tell me somebody actually. tried you? They knew you were Mike Tyson. and people would try you? No, I'm a troublemaker. Oh, so you tried.

them. I'm I'm a real troublemaker. Yes, I am, sir. What Mike, you know you had an You were. in an advantageous situation. You know. Why would you Why Why would you say, "You know what? I'm just going to do I'm. going to be I'm going to be a I'm going. to be a model inmate. I'm going to do my. time. I'm not going to bother anybody. cuz I know nobody's going to bother me.". You went looking for trouble? Well, listen, I didn't believe I need to. be there and I'm not going to let any. guard disrespect me. So You didn't have.

a problem with the inmates, you had a. problem with the guards. Yes. So hold on. I just want to make sure I. Was it Was it the guard per se or the. authoritative figure? Because that's what a guard is. What No. matter what you think about it, he's in. an authoritative position. If he's in an authoritative. position, he would just say, "You have. to leave." Or you you have to do that. He doesn't say, "Hey, get the hell out. of here." or "Move your ass." He doesn't. say that. Right. Authority doesn't say. that. So you thought they were You think You.

thought they were being disrespectful. towards you because of who you were. I didn't think of nothing. I ain't I. ain't thought of the words that he came. out of his mouth. You didn't think that he might have had. a bad day? I didn't want to hear those words coming. out of his mouth towards me. So Mike, you know people are allowed to. have a bad day. Was this a like a a. regular occurrence or this wasn't like. an isolated or was it just one or two. guards or was it like the the general. guard population?

It was a couple of incidents, but I I I rebounded and got over those. incidents and I became those I became. one of the psych of trustee. Okay, we'll. see. Let. Mike, I I think the biggest thing that a. boxer can have is like intimidation. You. had that because you didn't come out. there with no robe on. You cut the the. hotel towel, draped it over you. You. were all black tights, black boots, and. you had that You were glistening.

Listen, you know what that is? Intimidation is probably the best. It's probably the best heart to have in. sports and everything. But sometimes you. can scare a guy into kicking your ass. So if. Is that. So that Let me ask you a question. Let's. go to Let's go to Japan. I think that. was in what? '90 '91 when you were. Buster Douglas. You know. Mike, you know on a given day you could. beat Buster Douglas. If you fight 10. times, you beat him 10 times. 10 times.

What happened that night? Um he was the better fighter that night. That's why I can't take nothing away. from him. I trained hard, really. I. could have trained harder, but he really. fought a hell of a fight. He stuck to his Even when you you. dropped him and he got up on the eight. count, I was like, "Well, Mike got him. now. Mike put him down. Mike He's in his. groove." And he came back out with the. jab and. Check this out, right? By him beating me.

he catapulted me to even Mr. Mr. logical. level. I became even a bigger figure. after he beat me. Right. And then I went to prison. No, then I. beat the number one contender. And then I went to pri- I beat him. twice. Then I went to prison, came out, and I won two belts. Right. Do you be- Then I lost. Huh? Do you believe Let me ask you this. Do you believe had the incident that. sent you away for 2 and 1/2 years, had.

that not happened, how great a fighter would Mike Tyson. have been? If that didn't happen, Mike Tyson would. have died. So, that was the best thing. that ever happened to Mike Tyson. Wow. You really believe that? I know in my heart. You were on that destructive of a path. given who you were? Yes, brother. Yes. Yes. Yes. That was the best thing ever happened to. me is I went to prison. Trust me, Mr.

Sharp. I was just living a a really. disgusting life. Can I ask Mike, when you're alone in. your cell, there's no one there but you. and your innermost thoughts, what's going through your mind? You know, um. when you think of people in general, you, me, we're mythological. I'm God. We're religious. Allahu Akbar. We're superstitious, but I'm the black.

cat and don't cross my [ __ ] path. That's my life. Do you ever ask yourself, "I'm Mike. Tyson. I got millions. I got 10 houses. I got this. How the bleep did I end up. here?". Well, um. that's not particularly. the question. The question is what do I. do now that I am here? Okay. So, what.

What was a typical day like for for Mike. Tyson when he was incarcerated? You wake. up at What time did you have to get up? I got up early, but they allowed me to. work out. I could run whenever I wanted. to run. I was able to eat any kind of. food I wanted. I really had Listen, that. was the best 3 years of my life, really. I had a really I had a really awesome. time in prison. You said you weren't allowed to use your. body because they said that was a. weapon. Had you been last when you had. you been able to hit the heavy bag, hit.

the mitts, do things jump rope, do. things of that nature, and you come out, would you have been would you have been. a different fighter? No, the only way you become a different. fighter is sparring. You have to um you. have to practice what you're going to do. in the ring. I wasn't able to do that. Well, if. if they would have let you, I'm sure. some of those guys for what you pay a. sparring partner would have said, "Okay, Mike, just go ahead and put this on the. books for your boy. Your boy getting. there and and give you a couple of. rounds give you a couple of rounds.". It doesn't work like that when you're. incarcerated, brother. It doesn't work.

like that. We're on Mr. Gilmore. plantation. Mike, you love pigeons and looking at. your documentary and reading a lot of. what you said Hey, you Hey, interview. him, man. You're doing good. Really good. Well, thank you. What is it. What is it about pigeons. that made you gravitate towards I mean, not eagles, not I mean, not just a great. majestic bird, a pigeon. People look at. pigeons, they say they're flying rats. Exactly, but a pigeon makes you feel.

like an eagle. It's just the magic they have. We're put. on this earth to protect them and take. care of them. Right. So, um I'm reading you have you still have. you still love pigeons. How many pigeons. do you think you have currently? Couple of hundred. So, So, what do you What do you do. What do you do with a pigeon? Now, I've. heard about these pigeon races and. people raising pigeons and they have. some that cost thousands and thousands. of dollars. So, what is it that Mike.

Thousands. The highest paid pigeon is like 1.9 2.1. million dollars. What? A home. Look it up on your your Look it up on. your your phone. Yeah, hold on. Somebody paying 1.9 2 million. dollars for a pigeon? Yes. The Chinese from Chinese. businessman. Was Was he dragging 1.8. million or 1.9 million behind it? No, not at all. A check. And listen, the. bird he can never let the bird out. He's.

only for breeding. If he let him out, he. goes right back to his own. Hold on. So, let let me get Hold on. Time out. So, in flight. Hold on. So, So, let me. get this right. If you got a pigeon you. got pigeons. and I say, "Well, Mike, sell me one of. them. You sell me a couple of them." I. let the pigeons go, they're going to. come back to you? Yes. They're only for breeding. Oh, the whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa How do. How do they. How do they So, how do they know to come.

back to you? It's what they do. That's why they call. homing pigeons. They come home. So, that So, that's why you like them. You like. Everybody had. Prophet Muhammad, Jesus, everybody had. pigeons pigeons. Pigeons have been. around since the beginning of time. They're. um they're um they're done with they. their crap is worth a lot in ancient. times. Pigeon crap. Right. Some people like dogs, some people like. cats, some people raise livestock. It's.

pigeons. What is it about pigeons? Is it because like when you raise them, they'll never forsake you? They will. always come back to its original owner, which is Mike. Well, some of them yes get lost. You can have. a bird that you raised you he was born. in your coop and he has fly away and he. gets lost. And you would think yes get. lost. My old My old. Hey. What if he didn't get lost? What if. some like he might have got a hawk might.

have got him some other bird of prey? Well, I didn't get him so I didn't get. him he got lost. So, So, So, you breed So, you breed pigeons. Yes, I do. So, I want to know some name What What's. What's What's the special type of. pigeon? If I were to get If I were to. say, "Mike, look here, man. I'm thinking. about opening up me a pigeon operation. also, bro. Give me some pointers. What. type of pigeon do I need? How many. females? How many males?". I would say first, what do you want the.

pigeons for? You want them to make. money? You want them to entertainment? You want some enjoyment? What do you. want them for? You want to eat them? What do you do? I DON'T EAT no pigeon, man. All right, but what what you want them. for? I want it. It seems I want to for what you got them. for, for calmness. They gave They bring. you serenity. They bring you peace. So, I wanted the pigeon to do the same thing. for you that it did do for me what it. did for you. You want rollers then. No, what rollers. do, they fly in the air and they do.

somersaults. And it's very entertaining. Those are the type of pigeons you have? Yes, I do. And they come in all colors? Any color you would like. So, what's the difference between a. pigeon that I see in the park and say. a pigeon that Mike Tyson has, not the. rollers? What's the difference? The difference is that every pigeon. in the world comes from those pigeons in. the And all the pigeons in the world.

come from them. It was just a guy It was a gentleman on. Galapagos Island. I forgot his name. The. doctor or whatever his name was. He. started taking every pigeon that had a. white. um. a white feather and he made it to until. the until the bird turned all white. Mhm. And so, how many So, you have a couple of. hundred pigeons. Do you take them out? So, you take them out, throw them up in. the air, they do somersaults. How I. mean, how long. I just open the door and they fly out.

Okay. So, how long are they out? Um I leave them out for like what? 30. minutes. Leave them out for 30 minutes and then. they come right back? Well, I I anticipate leaving them for 30. minutes. Sometimes they fly so long, it. might be 2 hours they're staying in the. air. Even in nighttime. I didn't think they. could see at night, you know, Mr. Sharp. And I look at night. they're right in the air in the I mean, high in the air at nighttime. Can't even. see them, they can't see me. And you. just leave you just leave the coop open.

and they'll come back and they'll come. back home. If I let them out at 12:00 or something, they keep flying till 6:00 in the. morning. So, So, why would you Why are you Why do you. let them out that that close at at dusk? Why Why wouldn't you let them out at. like noon? The. The accident. I was just letting them. out and I'm throwing feed. I just want. to see them around. I didn't think they. were going to fly so they'd be scared at. nighttime. I always thought pigeons. at night. I was wrong. Right. Yeah, cuz I don't normally see pigeons.

at night. I was thinking they're like. they're day animal cuz I normally see. them walking in the park where I see. them flying so That. That But they fly at nighttime, too. And. they fly for hours. So, if some if let's just say a boxer. comes to you and he says, Mike, what. some of the advice that you'd give me as. far as not just the ring, but some of. the things are like my circle. What are. some of the things that you would tell a. young boxer? That um. in life whenever when life and ever.

whenever somebody wants to be the best. in the world of something in life, there's always going to be some. disappointments. And you have to take those. disappointments. and um pretty. uh integrate it with your determination. Mhm. And never never lose and continue. to work on your discipline and believe. that you're the best in the world of. whatever you're doing and there's never. been anyone better. I heard you I used to I used to tell. people that discipline is doing your.

very best when no one else is watching. I heard you describe discipline as doing. something you hate, but doing as if you. love it. Yes. Exactly. Did you hate. told. Go ahead. Excuse me? I was going to say did you. hate boxing? NO, I HATED TRAINING. OH, OKAY. Hated training. That training is a. monster. That's really testing you. So, that training is a monster.

But I did it anyway. So, everybody always ask me. because I was an ex-professional athlete. about being with women the night of the. day of a game. I guess when you go training when you go. to training camp, is no women allowed. Well, no well it starts out that way, but you know, some guys some guys do the. whole training camp with their families.

Right. As an individual. When you went away, how did you do it? Everything shut down. Everything. No any. no anything, no food almost. No. anything. It's hard work and discipline. It's sparring. How long how long was your training camp. typically? Six weeks. Six weeks.

So, Yes. Let me ask you a question. When you. were in your prime. Yeah. Go ahead. What you say now, Mike? I had 15 fights in 1 year. So, you hold on. If you had 15 fights in. 1 year, hell you stayed in camp. Yeah, yes. I was always training. No, not really training. I was always. fighting. Right. Well, because because. I had fights. fights in 1 week. Yeah, cuz I was going. to say if you're fighting that many, you. ain't got no training camp because. basically you fight and then two another.

week later, 2 weeks later you're. fighting again. Exactly. Mike, do you remember. uh I think it was March or April of 1996. you fought Frank Bruno. I do remember that fight. What do you. remember What do you What do you. remember about that fight? I remember I wanted to win so bad cuz I. wanted to. I just wanted to come out of prison and.

kind of take over the show again. Right. I remember that actually that was my. first heavyweight fight. And I remember people were talking about. the buzz that you feel at a heavyweight. fight. And they say not just any buzz. because you do realize you're going to. see Mike Tyson. Well, I had followed. your whole career. I knew who you were, I knew what you accomplished and and so. I'm I'm excited. I'm like, okay, I'm. there's nothing like that, Mike. Do you. Do you feel that electricity when you. walk into the ring? Can you hear the.

crowd start to get into a pitch when. you're in your dressing room? Listen, you're you're um. you're an athlete of a very high level. When you're in that mode of relaxation, you can hear and see everybody in the. arena. Yes. My. I had my friend after fight. I said, "Yo, man, who's that girl in the red. dress you were talking about?" He said, "Mike, get the [ __ ] OUT. YOU DID NOT SEE. IN THE ring I was talking to that girl. I was talking. if they have a baby.

You were very You were very close to. Tupac and I think that summer that was. when Tupac ultimately lost his life. I. think you were fighting Bruce Seldon. Yes. Do you Do you remember Do you remember. that fight? Yes, I remember that fight because I. remember talking to Tupac making sure he. would have the tape cuz I was coming out. out of his um with his music. I was. calling making making on time because um. I thought he was going to be late. Where were you when you got the news.

that Tupac had been shot and where did. you Where were you when you got the news. that he had ultimately lost his life? I was in my house. Cuz you were back You were living in. Vegas at the time, correct? Yes. So, I was in my house. I just had a. brand new baby girl. and I. and I just couldn't believe it cuz I. told him I'm coming to see you after um. I got to get dressed and then I had to. go I went to the house to see my. daughter and somebody told me he had got.

shot, but the next morning they had uh. released that he had died. Mike, every I mean, you have one of the. most recognizable faces. Everybody knows. who Mike Tyson is. You're beloved. I. don't think when you were 14 year old 14. years of age you thought you would be as. loved and revered as you are. Who are. some of the most Who are some of the. people that you've met that you like, damn, man, that's really cool. I met. such and such. I met this person. Yeah,

um. when I was in the reform school, I met. Muhammad Ali and that changed. everything. Wow. So, so what what did you ask him any. questions? What advice did he give you? Awesome, but once I saw it, I wanted to. be like that. Right. Cuz you saw the way. the people ga- gathered around him. You. thought You saw the aura that he. possessed. Yes. So, So, when athletes. and entertainers they see you now, what do they say to you?

They they tell me where they were at. certain places when I was doing certain. fights. Right. And it about their father and. mother or they had or they named me. after you because I was born in one of. your fights or. Right. Do you Do you like meeting like Michael. Jordan or Magic Johnson or LeBron James. or this one? Do you Do you get a I mean, are you like when you meet people, do. you like, damn, that's pretty cool? Cuz. you see the way they react towards you.

You know, um. if anybody gets it it humbles you. It. humbles you. It's just I I understand. why all both athletes respect each other. Yes. because you have to be around real. people and know who you are before. somebody tells you who you are. Right. Because But here's the thing, the. fathers we got to take care of kids and. all that superstar. um iconic [ __ ] got to go out the window. You know why, Mike? Because as an. athlete at the highest level, they.

understand the sacrifice and the. discipline that it takes. And that's. what I tell See, people like I was like, look, everybody doesn't want to be great. or want to ascend to that top top level. and that's okay. Some people just want. to get a paycheck, go home and live a. nice quiet happy life. But if you want. to ascend to heights that's never been. ascended, there's nothing you can do. without sacrifice and discipline and. you're going to have to re-. Go ahead. Some Some people. Some people do it. They like to. sacrifice, but they don't like what. comes with it. They want to sacrifice.

They want to go hard. They want to hang. out with the boys, but they don't want. to come with They don't want what the. sacrifice gives. They won't They don't. want that type of shine. That scares my. kids. When people come up taking. pictures, scares the hell out of my. kids. My kids are saying, "See you. later, Dad." Boom. Bec- Let me ask you a. question. How many of your kids were. around were were born when you were. fighting? I'm not. Mike Tyson, Iron Mike. But when I was that guy, I wasn't a good. father. Right.

That guy wasn't a cool father. My kids. are just like a year or two my kids just. started getting tight with me again. But. But Mike, those are the sacrifices that. you're talking about that you have to. make. You see You said it yourself. You. don't believe. I understand that, but it's a lot of. sacrifice and getting it back together, too. Right. It's. thing. Well, I commend. have to. Well, I commend you I commend you for. being able to get it back together. because a lot of times, you know, a lot. of times when we we we sacrifice, I.

think what they they see now, Mike, in. you is that a lot of your sacrifice was. for them. You know what can I say, tell Mr. Sharp? Yes. None of my kids None of my kids. going to say my my grandkids going to. say, "Wow, Dad Granddad really looked. OUT FOR US.". GRANDDAD REALLY LOOKED OUT. Because you wanted You wanted for your. kids and your grandkids more than what. you had. You didn't want your kids or.

your grandkids to spend 1 hour in a day. that you had as a kid. But listen, listen, they couldn't um. they couldn't handle what I had. That's. why they have the life that they have. now. What What What I lived through. would kill them. Yes. I tell my kids that all the time. You're not You're not built to to go. through what I had to go through to make. sure that you didn't go through it. Listen, I have a daughter that plays. tennis at a high level, but you have to.

think about this. When I When I lost the fight, it was. closer to going back to Brownsville or. going back to lockup. When she wins the. fight, she goes back to a big mansion, big lawn property, and all that stuff. Right. totally different equation. Mike, you've had your I mean, you once. knocked a guy out in 30 seconds. You had. a uh start your career, I think you had. 17 straight knockouts. When you land a punch, do you know it's. a knockout punch when you hit a guy with.

it? Not all the time, no. Sometimes you throw a punch, you thought. you missed. Perfect punch, the guy's out. cold. He said, "Damn, I thought I missed. that punch.". So, when you thought when you when you. throw a punch, are you are you are you. trying to like maybe if I hit him in the. chest and he ducked, it'll catch him in. his chin? Or am I trying to punch his. shoulder? What are you trying to When. you throw a punch, what are you trying. to hit? What I'm trying to do is um. put the guy in position for to be able. to hit him where I want to.

Right. I want him against the wall against the. ropes standing and still with his hands. up like this. This is how I want him. So, that's when you going to club That's. when you going to come with the combo to. the body with the uppercut. Because when. he comes when he with he's like this, you club him to the body, he drops it. down, now you come through the guard. Yes, exactly. Who. You are And I. But when I hit him with the uppercut, it's not hard. But no why they go down. cuz they don't see it. Right.

It's the punch that you don't see that. gets you up out of there. Not that hard. The The punch to the body. is harder, but he just comes up and he. don't see it, and that what makes them. go down. How do you how do. How do you I mean, how do you get to the. point where you're able to walk a guy. into a punch? Because you're able. because I was watching the the Rumble in. the Jungle documentary, and I was. watching how George Foreman was was like. cutting off the ring. And then in. sparring, he was just trying to cut the. ring off because he knew he had a. feeling that Ali was going to get on his.

bicycle. So, I'm going to try to cut the. ring off. How do you walk a guy into a. punch? You're like, "Okay, this is what. he wants to do. I'm going to walk him. into this.". Listen, right? It's almost impossible to walk Muhammad. Ali into a punch, but um. you know, it's all about setting up. people in a position. Almost like. playing um Chess. Mhm. That is. right position to knock them out or to. drop them or to hit them. But you know, fighters got spirit. Sometimes some guys you got to beat them.

to death. They just won't quit. George Foreman, Mike Tyson, of the of the of the heavyweights, who. who do you believe is the hardest. puncher? Goddamn. I don't George Foreman is pretty hard, man. You know what I mean? You just look at. the all these other guys knock Look at. the modern day heavyweight knockouts, then look at George Foreman knockouts. I. mean, really him and Sonny Liston really.

beat guys. They could beat somebody to. death. Right. Jack Johnson? Well, yeah, he was great for his time, but I'm talking about fighting guys that. really know how to fight. Right. George Foreman. and God, and Sonny Liston, if they beat. him in the death. Who Who do you think is the most. technical heavyweight? Muhammad. What make What made Muhammad Ali so. special? The desire to win and ego.

So, he had to back up all. After he After he don't talk trash to. everybody, he had to back it up, huh? Well, he believed that he was the. greatest fighter that God ever created, and he loved himself more than anybody. ever loved themselves in their life. Did you And you can't beat that. How do. you beat that? Let me ask you a question. Did Mike. Tyson love himself more than anybody? At a. At one time, yeah, periods I go up and. down. with my emotions about me.

But it seems that you're in a Mike, just. talking to you right now, it seems like. you're in a very very good place. Yeah, I'm I feel like I'm in a good. place, but anything can change within. the drop of an eye. You know, everything's great, but you. know, it can happen. Mike Mike Mike, you have everything. You. just talked about the mansion that you. got with alarms, and you got all the. cars. I don't think you got any tigers. anymore, but you still got your pigeons. Life is good. You got kids, you got. grandkids. YOU'RE GREAT.

LIFE IS LIFE IS IT'S MORE than that. Life's even more than that. What What is What What more is to be. surrounded by family that loves you and. have more and have it all? What don't. you have that you would you that you. would What does Mike What doesn't Mike. Tyson have that he wants? I haven't reached I haven't reached my. highest potential yet. What do you What does Mike Okay, let's.

Can I Can we project over the next 2. years what If I say at age of 57, Mike. Tyson will be. I'll be close to reaching my highest. potential. That was That's what I'm aiming for. Do you do Do you do social media? No, I don't I don't know how to spell. that well, so I wouldn't know how to. But you know You know You know you can. get people to do that for you.

That was just a waste of money to me. So, you're not big in the wasting money. anymore. No, um I'm into really wasting money. Mike, I really throw it away. I don't play. with no money. But what I I. I think the thing is Mike So, let me ask. you a question. When you were When you. were growing up and you had these.

dreams, you were fighting, you were. laying in your in your bed, and you were. thinking, what were some of the things that Mike. Tyson What were some of the things that, "Man, if I get this, I would have made. it. If I get that, I would have made it. I'm going to have all this.". Everything. But once when I didn't have it, I wanted. it real bad. Once I got it, I didn't. want it anymore. I heard you say that. just exactly what you just said. You. said you wanted all, and when you got. it, you was more miserable than when you. didn't have it. Yeah, having it all is a different.

perspective. Mike, let me ask you You like sports? Who's. your favorite Who's your favorite. football team? Wow, when um Lawrence Taylor played with. the Giants. You were You were LT fan. Back in the day, I loved LT. Okay, what. about basketball? Michael Jordan. I think you like Jordan because his name.

Mike and your name Mike. We were born in the same hospital. The NFL has donated. $1 million to to study the benefits of. marijuana. If Commissioner Goodell called Mike. Tyson in, and says, "Mike, lay out your best what marijuana does, the benefits that it has as far as pain. because they're trying to get away from. the injections, they're trying to get. away from the the the painkillers, the.

the pills. What would What would you. tell Commissioner Goodell?". That you have to go um that is um. from the history of marijuana, they've. getting the wrong information. They're. misinformed about marijuana. It's not a. drug, it's a medicine. And um you could. tell there's some guys that gave up. their career over marijuana. So, um they have It has to make some. sense to the people that this is not. some. um toxic cotton or anything. It only It.

It only encourages the the players to. play better. Right. My perspective of it I fight better when. I'm on marijuana or some mushrooms. So, what is What is Tyson 2.0? What is. that going to entail? Well, Tyson 2.0 is going to detail. um a cannabis company with the um. mushroom situation and the psychedelics, and we're going to really um. pretty much. We're we're in We're in what? 18 states,

about 400 stores. Uh-huh. And our Our objective is to. conquer the world with our products. So, you feel you have the best product. Um the world told me I have the best. product. The world The The world told you that. Yes, I won the contest of the world. championships and stuff. Acting. How did you get into acting? I don't know. I just I have friends that. were um directors, and they said, "Hey,

Mike, sit in this movie. Hey, Mike, go. do this, do that." And I was never. getting paid for that stuff. So, um. I started acting and getting paid for. it. What's your favorite movie you've been. in? The Hangover, big time. Everybody I Yeah. That was That was That was That was. That was That was a great movie. Yeah, put me back on my feet for a. minute. Do you Let me ask you a question. Do you. ever sit back and watch some of your.

fights with your kids? Or do you have. buddies over sometime, and you're. reminiscing like, "Okay, let's watch. this fight.". Sometimes I come in and my kids my kids. and their friends are watching some of. my fights. I say, "Hey, we can't do that. in here, okay? Chill out. We got to be on human mode. here.". Why you Why you don't celebrate? Why you don't Why you Why you don't want. the kids to watch it? Cuz sometimes after the fight, I may. have called somebody's mother or. something. I was cursed at somebody.

Oh God. I want to get I want to get you out of. here on these last few questions, Mike. Tyson Fury. Francis Ngannou. Do you think that Do you want to see. that fight? Yeah, I don't mind watching it. Oh, I'm talking about a fight not Oh, not MMA. Let's Let's be specific. A. boxing match. Would you like to see a. boxing match with Tyson Fury and Francis. Ngannou? I like to see anybody fight.

Oh, you just like I don't see two. So, you just want to see a fight. Yeah. What do you think about Conor McGregor? Great showman. Do you think he should box? Do you think. he should like leave MMA and come over. and box? Whatever he's going to do, he's going to. make a [ __ ] ton of money. He is. He is. Cuz he can sell a fight. He He's a He's as good at selling a.

fight as anybody that we've had in the. business. He might He might He might. rival Ali. I don't think he's as witty. and as clever as Ali, but he can sell a. fight, Mike. He can sell a fight. People that they said, "No way. He ain't. nowhere near Ali." I said, "This guy's a. This guy's a circus show, too. He's a. traveling circus.". Yes. Yes, he is. Mike, I really appreciate you taking. time out of your day and giving me a. couple minutes, bro. [ __ ] you, brother. Man, I appreciate it. Best of luck with whatever you do. Keep.

conquering the world. I'm glad of the. man that I'm interviewing right now. I'm. glad what you turned out to be, bro. I. really appreciate you. Um love, brother. All the best. All my life I've been grinding all my. life. Sacrifice. Hustle paid the price. Want a slice. Got to roll the dice. That's why All my life I've been. grinding all my life. All my life I've been grinding all my. life. Sacrifice. Hustle paid the price. Want a slice. Got to roll the dice. That's why All my life I've been.

grinding all my life.