Mike Tyson: In His Own Words – Exclusive Interview

Exclusive Interview by “Bad” Brad Berkwitt
Photo Courtesy of Mike Tyson

“It would be very difficult to institute a retirement fund. The champion fighters make purses that would not require them to think of the future.”—Mike Tyson

If you came here to read more about Mike Tyson’s past outside of the ring, you found the wrong interview. However, if you came to hear from the man once known as “the baddest man on the planet”, you will not want to miss this interview. I have been around the sport of boxing since 1975, both in and out of the ring (amateur). During those magical years, I have followed many legendary fighters, but none and I mean none captivated boxing fans on Planet Earth like Mike Tyson did during his first reign (86 – 90) as the Heavyweight Champion of the World.

On November 22, 1986, Tyson cemented his legacy by being the youngest fighter (20 years and four months old) to ever win the heavyweight championship when he destroyed then champion, Trevor Berbick, in two rounds to claim the World Boxing Council (WBC) title. The rest is boxing history.

Frank Sinatra is to the music industry what Mike Tyson is to boxing. A larger than life figure, who gave their fans blood, sweat and tears in both their respected mediums. Both with IQ’s in their beloved professions that no IQ test can ever measure.

So without further ado… RSR readers, Mike Tyson: In His Own Words…..

BB: Off the break, I have a lot of respect for your Boxing History IQ. With that said, if you had to rate the sport of boxing today from 1 – 10 compared to its highest point of years gone by, what would you rate it? Why?

I would rate it a solid 8. The Latino audience is the big factor – it’s a huge audience for boxing. We may not have legendary fighters like Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Robinson, Marcel Cerdan, Kid Gavilan and the others, but the young fighters entering boxing today are just as hungry.

BB: Now that you have a little time under your belt as a boxing promoter, what do you feel you are doing really well at and what do you feel you still have more to learn on?

I believe Garry Jonas and I are making decisions based upon the most important principle in boxing – do what is in the best interest of the fighter. And I think we can do even more to place a brighter spotlight on our fighters.

BB: We share a few similarities with both of us boxing as amateurs and then as grown adults, going into the field of acting. I feel that my training/discipline as a fighter may be one of the biggest things that have helped me with doing a role. What do you feel both your amateur and professional boxing career helped you in your acting career?

It’s a bit different. While the amateur and pro boxing gave me great experience, I believe it’s being older now provides me with more “relaxation” before the camera. And also, you can always shoot an acting scene over. You can’t do that in a fight.

BB: You fought from 1985 – 2005 in the heavyweight division. Do you feel the current heavyweight division has any of the depth it had when you first came into the sport?

There was great depth in the 1985-1988 heavyweight division when I was coming up. There were fine former heavyweight champions: Larry Holmes, Tim Witherspoon, James “Bonecrusher” Smith, Pinklon Thomas, Tony Tucker, Tony Tubbs, Michael Spinks – as well as top 10 contenders,Terrel Biggs, Jose Ribalta, James “Quick” Tillis, and Mitch Green. The current crop is not equal to that.

BB: The heavyweight division as we both know, was once looked to have totally carried the sport of boxing. However, today, you cannot ask a casual boxing fan who the Heavyweight Champion is without them either having no clue, or they cannot pronounce the name. Why do you think that is?

So the kid joins one of the school teams. The kids who are too small.The best well of heavyweight kids 14-18 years old are presented with a number of sports. They look at the beautiful football field with the uniforms and girl cheerleaders and like that a lot. Or, they look at the beautiful baseball field with uniforms and girl cheerleaders and like that a lot. Or, they go indoors and look at the beautiful basketball arena with the girl cheerleaders and like that a lot. Or, their father says to them that they can make more in one heavyweight championship fight than they can make in years of pro ball. So they drive 20 miles downtown to a dark, dirty, smelly gym with blood in the spit buckets. The kid looks around and says, “I don’t think so Dad.”

That’s why we don’t see great athletes in the heavyweight division anymore. They are all playing the other sports. Since the smaller weight guys are a bit too small for these other pro sports we see great talent below heavyweight. The heavyweight picture is different outside the US. There is not much baseball, football, and basketball for the big guys to play so many go into boxing. But, the boxing skills taught to them by most of the trainers is severely lacking. Especially when it comes to head motion.

BB: In what fight, did we see Mike Tyson at his very best?

The Reggie Gross fight. I was pretty good with my head motion just prior to landing the big shot on Gross. To my knowledge, no one but Cus ever taught head motion to that extent. At least I have never seen a fighter move like that in the ring in any fight.

BB: If Joe Louis, Jack Dempsey, and Sugar Ray Robinson were alive today, what do you think they would say about the current “state of boxing”?

Louis, Dempsey as well as Robinson would always be complimentary of the boxing scene and the current crop of fighters. Of course, they would not show that if they were in the ring with any of today’s opponents.

BB: I recently spoke with a former boxing champion and a two time title challenger who both said, “Brad, today these young men don’t want to train and feel they should make the millions that Floyd Mayweather, JR. does.” Have you seen this in young fighters and if so, why do you think it is happening?

If there were as many boxing gyms as there were in the 30’s – 60’s there would be more young men who would be very, very hungry and the ones you are referring to would be simply “journeymen” fighters.

BB: What is one thing you can share with RSR readers that has never been heard before?

I was interviewed recently and asked who was the greatest heavyweight champion in history? I said “Muhammad Ali.” Then I was asked who was the second best heavyweight champion in history? I said, “it was me.” I just thought I had more tools and of course, the Cus D’amato head motion and number system.

BB: It’s been years since I started doing interviews with fighters and now that I am back to doing them, the sport still doesn’t have a mandatory retirement fund for all boxers, something I fought for over many years. What do you think is really stopping the “Powers to Be” from finally instituting it across the board forcing every sanctioning body to ensure it is in place?

It would be very difficult to institute a retirement fund. The champion fighters make purses that would not require them to think of the future. The undercard fighters do not make enough for them to share their purse. And, up to now, no promoter has invested his own money in a fighter’s future. Up to now it is not something that the commissions or government has addressed.

BB: Finally, what is the saying you live your life by?

“One day at a time.”

 

Mike Tyson
Division: Heavyweight
Professional Record: 50-6, 44 KO’s

Date Opponent Location Result

1985-03-06 Hector Mercedes Albany, US W TKO 1
1985-04-10 Trent Singleton Albany, US W TKO 1
1985-05-23 Don Halpin Albany, US W KO 4
1985-06-20 Ricardo Spain Atlantic City, US W TKO 1
1985-07-11 John Alderson Atlantic City, US W RTD 2
1985-07-19 Larry Sims Poughkeepsie, US W KO 3
1985-08-15 Lorenzo Canady Atlantic City, US W KO 1
1985-09-05 Michael Johnson Atlantic City, US W KO 1
1985-10-09 Donnie Long Atlantic City, US W TKO 1
1985-10-25 Robert Colay Atlantic City, US W KO 1
1985-11-01 Sterling Benjamin Latham, US W TKO 1
1985-11-13 Eddie Richardson Houston, US W KO 1
1985-11-22 Conroy Nelson Latham, US W TKO 2
1985-12-06 Sammy Scaff New York, US W TKO 1
1985-12-27 Mark Young Latham, US W TKO 1

1986-01-11 David Jaco Albany, US W TKO 1
1986-01-24 Mike Jameson Atlantic City, US W TKO 5
1986-02-16 Jesse Ferguson Troy, US W TKO 6
1986-03-10 Steve Zouski Uniondale, US W KO 3
1986-05-03 James Tillis Glens Falls, US W UD 10
1986-05-20 Mitch Green New York, US W UD 10
1986-06-13 Reggie Gross New York, US W TKO 1
1986-06-28 William Hosea Troy, US W KO 1
1986-07-11 Lorenzo Boyd Swan Lake, US W KO 2
1986-07-26 Marvis Frazier Glens Falls, US W TKO 1
1986-08-17 Jose Ribalta Atlantic City, US W TKO 10
1986-09-06 Alfonzo Ratliff Las Vegas, US W TKO 2
1986-11-22 Trevor Berbick Las Vegas, US W TKO 2
WBC World Heavyweight Title

1987-03-07 James Smith Las Vegas, US W UD 12
WBC World Heavyweight Title
WBA World Heavyweight Title
1987-05-30 Pinklon Thomas Las Vegas, US W TKO 6
WBC World Heavyweight Title
WBA World Heavyweight Title
1987-08-01 Tony Tucker Las Vegas, US W UD 12
WBC World Heavyweight Title
WBA World Heavyweight Title
IBF World Heavyweight Title
1987-10-16 Tyrell Biggs Atlantic City, US W TKO 7
WBC World Heavyweight Title
WBA World Heavyweight Title
IBF World Heavyweight Title

1988-01-22 Larry Holmes Atlantic City, US W TKO 4
WBC World Heavyweight Title
WBA World Heavyweight Title
IBF World Heavyweight Title
1988-03-21 Tony Tubbs JP W TKO 2
WBC World Heavyweight Title
WBA World Heavyweight Title
IBF World Heavyweight Title
1988-06-27 Michael Spinks Atlantic City, US W KO 1
WBC World Heavyweight Title
WBA World Heavyweight Title
IBF World Heavyweight Title

1989-02-25 Frank Bruno Las Vegas, US W TKO 5
WBC World Heavyweight Title
WBA World Heavyweight Title
IBF World Heavyweight Title
1989-07-21 Carl Williams Atlantic City, US W TKO 1
WBC World Heavyweight Title
WBA World Heavyweight Title
IBF World Heavyweight Title

1990-02-11 James Douglas JP L KO 10
WBC World Heavyweight Title
WBA World Heavyweight Title
IBF World Heavyweight Title
1990-06-16 Henry Tillman Las Vegas, US W KO 1
1990-12-08 Alex Stewart Atlantic City, US W TKO 1

1991-03-18 Donovan Ruddock Las Vegas, US W TKO 7
1991-06-28 Donovan Ruddock Las Vegas, US W UD 12

1995-08-19 Peter McNeeley Las Vegas, US W DQ 1
1995-12-16 Buster Mathis Jr. Philadelphia, US W KO 3

1996-03-16 Frank Bruno Las Vegas, US W TKO 3
WBC World Heavyweight Title
1996-09-07 Bruce Seldon Las Vegas, US W TKO 1
WBA World Heavyweight Title
1996-11-09 Evander Holyfield Las Vegas, US L TKO 11
WBA World Heavyweight Title

1997-06-28 Evander Holyfield Las Vegas, US L DQ 3
WBA World Heavyweight Title

1999-01-16 Frans Botha Las Vegas, US W KO 5
1999-10-23 Orlin Norris Las Vegas, US NC NC 1

2000-01-29 Julius Francis Manchester, UK W TKO 2
2000-06-24 Lou Savarese Glasgow, UK W TKO 1
2000-10-20 Andrew Golota Auburn Hills, US NC NC 3

2001-10-13 Brian Nielsen Copenhagen, DK W RTD 6

2002-06-08 Lennox Lewis Memphis, US L KO 8
WBC World Heavyweight Title
IBF World Heavyweight Title
International Boxing Organization World Heavyweight Title

2003-02-22 Clifford Etienne Memphis, US W KO 1

2004-07-30 Danny Williams Louisville, US L KO 4

2005-06-11 Kevin McBride Washington, US L TKO 6

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