March 7, 2024 • 15 mins
From the mean streets of Brooklyn to the bright lights of Las Vegas, "The Baddest Man on the Planet" takes you on a rollercoaster ride through the life of Mike Tyson - one of the most fearsome and fascinating figures in the history of boxing. With his lightning-fast fists and unparalleled intensity, Tyson took the sport by storm, becoming the youngest heavyweight champion in history and cementing his place as a cultural icon. But his story is about more than just boxing - it's a tale of fame and fortune, love and loss, crime and punishment, and ultimately, redemption. Featuring never-before-heard interviews with Tyson himself, as well as insights from those who knew him best, this podcast is a must-listen for anyone who wants to understand the man behind the myth. So step into the ring with "The Baddest Man on the Planet" - and prepare to be knocked out by the incredible story of Mike Tyson.
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
The Baddest man on the planet.The Remarkable Life of Mike Tyson, Chapter
one, From the Streets to theRing. The sun had barely risen over
the crime ridden streets of Brownsville,Brooklyn on June thirtieth, nineteen sixty six,
when Mike Tyson took his first breath, Born into a world of poverty,
(00:21):
violence, and addiction. No onecould have predicted that this baby boy
would one day become one of themost iconic and controversial figures in sports history.
Mike was the youngest of three childrenborn to Jimmy Kirkpatrick and Lorna Tyson.
His father, Jimmy, was asmall time pimp and gambler who abandoned
(00:44):
the family when Mike was just twoyears old. Left to fend for herself,
Lorna struggled to provide for her childrenin the rough neighborhoods of Brooklyn.
Growing up, Mike faced constant bullyingand ridicule for his high pitched voice and
lisp. He was a shy,overweight child who often felt like an outsider.
(01:06):
To cope with the pain and isolation, Mike turned to petty crime and
violence. By the age of thirteen, he had been arrested thirty eight times
for offenses ranging from purse snatching toarmed robbery. It seemed like Mike was
destined for a life of crime andincarceration, but fate had other plans for
the troubled teen. In nineteen seventyeight, he was sent to the Tryon
(01:30):
School for Boys, a reform schoolin upstate New York, where he met
a man who would change his lifeforever. Bobby Stuart was a counselor at
Tryan and a former amateur boxer.He immediately recognized Mike's raw talent and began
training him in the sweet science.Under Stuart's guidance, Mike discovered a natural
(01:53):
aptitude for boxing. He was quick, powerful, and had an innate understanding
of the sport. Stuart introduced Miketo legendary boxing trainer Couse Damatto, who
took the young fighter under his wing. Dematto saw something special in Mike,
a fire, a hunger, adetermination to be the best. He invited
(02:15):
Mike to live with him in Catskill, New York, where he could train
full time and hone his skills.For the first time in his life,
Mike had a stable home environment anda father figure who believed in him.
Dematto taught Mike the Peekaboo style ofboxing, a technique that emphasized defense and
(02:36):
counter punching. He also instilled inMike a fierce work ethic and a belief
that he was destined for greatness.Under Dematto's tutelage, Mike's talent blossomed.
He won the nineteen eighty one andnineteen eighty two Junior Olympic Games, quickly
establishing himself as one of the mostpromising young boxers in the country. In
(03:00):
nineteen eighty four, he competed inthe Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, but
lost a controversial decision in the quarterfinals. Despite the Olympic disappointment, Mike
was ready to turn pro. OnMarch sixth, nineteen eighty five, he
stepped into the ring for his firstprofessional fight against Hector Mercedes. Tyson won
(03:23):
by first round t KO, showcasingthe raw power and speed that would become
his trademark. Over the next eighteenmonths, Tyson tore through the heavyweight division
like a hurricane. He won hisfirst nineteen fights, eleven of them by
first round knockout. His quick,devastating style earned him the nickname Kid Dynamite
(03:47):
and made him a must see attraction. On November twenty second, nineteen eighty
six, at the age of justtwenty years and four months, Mike Tyson
became the youngest heavy dweight champion inhistory when he defeated Trevor Berbick by second
round TKO. He had arrived atthe pinnacle of the sport, but his
(04:09):
reign at the top would be markedby both triumph and tragedy. Chapter two,
The Reign of Iron Mike. Asthe undisputed heavyweight Champion of the World,
Mike Tyson became a global superstar.His menacing scowl, his black trunks,
his bulging muscles, they all becameiconic symbols of power and dominance.
(04:33):
He was featured on the cover ofSports, Illustrated, Time, and People.
He partied with celebrities and dated actressesand models. He was the king
of the world. In the ring, Tyson was a force of nature.
He successfully defended his title nine times, unifying the WBC, WBA, and
(04:53):
IBF belts along the way. Hedemolished opponents with a ferocity that had never
been seen before. His fights werelike watching a lion take down a gazelle,
quick, brutal, and merciless.One of Tyson's most famous fights came
on June twenty seventh, nineteen eightyeight, when he faced off against the
undefeated Michael Spinks. Spinx was askilled boxer with a thirty one zero record,
(05:18):
but he was no match for Tyson'spower. The fight lasted just ninety
one seconds, with Tyson dropping Sphinxtwice before the referee stopped the contest.
It was a stunning display of dominancethat cemented Tyson's status as the baddest man
on the planet. But as tysonstarr rose higher and higher, cracks began
(05:43):
to show in his personal life.His marriage to actress Robin Gibbons was tumultuous
and abusive. Gibvens filed for divorceafter just eight months, alleging that Tyson
had physically assaulted her on multiple occasions. Tyson's behavior outside the ring became increasingly
erratic and self destructive. He wasinvolved in street fights, car accidents,
(06:09):
and other unseemly incidents. He firedhis long time trainer, Kevin Rooney,
and surrounded himself with a new entourageof yes men and hangers on. Despite
the chaos swirling around him. Tysoncontinued to dominate in the ring. He
successfully defended his title six more times, including a ninety three second demolition of
(06:31):
Karl the Truth Williams in nineteen eightynine. But on February eleventh, nineteen
ninety, Tyson's aura of invincibility wasshattered when he lost to forty two one
underdog James Buster Douglas in Tokyo,Japan. Douglas knocked Tyson down for the
first time in his career in theeighth round and finished him off in the
(06:53):
tenth. It was a stunning upsetthat sent shockwaves through the sports world.
The loss to Douglas marked the beginningof the end for Tyson's reign at the
top. He won his next fourfights, but his personal life continued to
spiral out of control. In Julynineteen ninety one, he was arrested and
(07:14):
charged with the rape of eighteen yearold Desiree Washington, a contestant in the
Miss Black America pageant. Tyson maintainedhis innocence, but a jury found him
guilty of rape. In February nineteenninety two, he was sentenced to six
years in prison, effectively ending hisboxing career at the height of his powers,
(07:36):
Chapter three, The Wilderness Years.Mike Tyson entered the Indiana Youth Center
in March nineteen ninety two as prisonernine two two, three, three five.
For the next three years, hewould be just another number in the
correctional system, stripped of his freedom, his fame, and his fortune.
(07:58):
Prison was a humbling experienvariance for Tyson. He spent his days reading books on
history and philosophy, trying to makesense of his life and his choices.
He converted to Islam and changed hisname to Malik Abdulaziz. But even behind
bars, Tyson's star power was undeniable. He received thousands of letters from fans
(08:20):
around the world, many of themwomen, offering their love and support.
He even had a prison wedding toMonica Turner, a medical student he had
met before his incarceration. Tyson wasreleased from prison in March nineteen ninety five,
vowing to turn his life around andreclaim his spot at the top of
(08:43):
the boxing world. He quickly returnedto the ring, knocking out Peter McNeely
in just eighty nine seconds in hisfirst fight back. Over the next two
years, Tyson won six more fights, including a third round t KO of
Frank Bruno to regain the WBC heavyweighttitle, but his comeback was derailed by
(09:05):
a shocking upset loss to a VanderHolyfield in November nineteen ninety six. The
rematch with holy Field seven months laterwould become one of the most infamous fights
in boxing history. In the thirdround, Tyson bit a chunk out of
holy Field's right ear, resulting inhis disqualification and a one year suspension from
(09:28):
boxing. The ear biting incident cementedTyson's reputation as a volatile and unpredictable fighter.
He won his next few fights,but his skills were clearly diminished.
He lost the WBA title to LennoxLewis in two thousand two, and suffered
embarrassing defeats to Danny Williams and KevinMcBride in two thousand four and two thousand
(09:54):
and five, respectively. Tyson's personallife also continued to be a mess,
struggled with drug addiction, went throughtwo more divorces, and declared bankruptcy in
two thousand and three, despite havingearned over four hundred million dollars in his
career. In two thousand and six, Tyson's world came crashing down when his
(10:15):
four year old daughter, Exodus,died in a tragic accident at his home
in Arizona. The loss sent Tysoninto a deep depression and led him to
confront his own mortality Chapter four,Redemption and Legacy. In the years since
his retirement from boxing, Mike Tysonhas worked hard to rehabilitate his image and
(10:39):
find peace in his personal life.He has spoken openly about his struggles with
addiction and mental health, becoming anadvocate for sobriety and recovery. Tyson has
also found success as an entertainer,starring in a one man Broadway show about
his life and appearing in movie likeThe Hangover. He has launched his own
(11:03):
line of cannabis products and hosts apopular podcast called Hot Boxing with Mike Tyson.
But perhaps Tyson's greatest legacy is theimpact he had on the sport of
boxing. He was a once ina generation fighter who captured the imagination of
millions around the world. His quick, aggressive style and devastating power changed the
(11:28):
way people thought about heavyweights. Tyson'scareer was marked by incredible highs and devastating
lows, but through it all,he remained a larger than life figure.
He was a complex and flawed individual, but he was also a fighter in
every sense of the word. Lookingback on his life, Tyson has expressed
(11:52):
both pride and regret. He knowsthat he made mistakes and hurt people along
the way, but he also knowsthat he accomplished things that few others could
dream of. In the end,Mike Tyson's story is one of redemption and
perseverance. He faced countless obstacles andsetbacks, but he never stopped fighting.
(12:13):
He fell down many times, buthe always got back up. As Tyson
himself has said, I ain't thesame person I was when I bit that
guy's ear off. I ain't thesame person I was when I was fighting
and conquering the world. I'm notthe same person I was when I was
hanging around them bars and strip clubsand a fool. I'm just not that
(12:35):
guy any more. To day,Mike Tyson is a different man, a
man who has learned from his mistakesand is trying to make a positive impact
on the world. He is afather, a husband, and a mentor
to young fighters who look up tohim. He is also a living legend
a symbol of both the best andworst of what boxing has to offer.
(13:00):
He was a fighter who could inspire, awe and terror in equal measure,
a man who embodied the primal thrillof the sport. In the pantheon of
boxing grates, Mike Tyson stands alone. He was not the most skilled or
the most graceful, but he wasthe most ferocious, the most intimidating,
and the most electrifying. He wasthe baddest man on the planet, and
(13:26):
for that he will always be remembered. Thanks for joining us on this incredible
journey through the life and career ofMike Tyson. We hope you've been as
captivated by his story as we have, and that you've gained a new appreciation
for the man behind the legend.As we've seen, Tyson's story is one
(13:46):
of incredible highs and devastating lows,of triumph and tragedy, of redemption and
renewal. It's a story that remindsus of the power of the human spirit
and of the incredible things that canbe achieved through hard work, determination,
and an unwavering belief in oneself.If you've enjoyed this podcast, we invite
(14:09):
you to subscribe to our channel andjoin us for more incredible stories of iconic
figures from the world of sports andbeyond. From the wrestling ring to the
football field, from the basketball courtto the Olympic podium. We'll take you
behind the scenes and give you anup close and personal look at the men
(14:31):
and women who have defined their sportsand left an indelible mark on our culture.
This podcast was brought to you byQuiet Please Podcast Networks, your home
for the most compelling and engaging storiesfrom the world of sports, entertainment and
beyond. With a wide range ofshows covering everything from true crime to comedy,
(14:54):
from history to science, Quiet Pleasehas something for everyone. Again,
thanks for listening and we hope you'lljoin us again soon for another unforgettable journey
into the lives of the people whohave shaped our world. Until next time,
this is Quite Please Podcast Networks,Signing off.
The Baddest man on the planet.The Remarkable Life of Mike Tyson, Chapter
one, From the Streets to theRing. The sun had barely risen over
the crime ridden streets of Brownsville,Brooklyn on June thirtieth, nineteen sixty six,
when Mike Tyson took his first breath, Born into a world of poverty,
(00:21):
violence, and addiction. No onecould have predicted that this baby boy
would one day become one of themost iconic and controversial figures in sports history.
Mike was the youngest of three childrenborn to Jimmy Kirkpatrick and Lorna Tyson.
His father, Jimmy, was asmall time pimp and gambler who abandoned
(00:44):
the family when Mike was just twoyears old. Left to fend for herself,
Lorna struggled to provide for her childrenin the rough neighborhoods of Brooklyn.
Growing up, Mike faced constant bullyingand ridicule for his high pitched voice and
lisp. He was a shy,overweight child who often felt like an outsider.
(01:06):
To cope with the pain and isolation, Mike turned to petty crime and
violence. By the age of thirteen, he had been arrested thirty eight times
for offenses ranging from purse snatching toarmed robbery. It seemed like Mike was
destined for a life of crime andincarceration, but fate had other plans for
the troubled teen. In nineteen seventyeight, he was sent to the Tryon
(01:30):
School for Boys, a reform schoolin upstate New York, where he met
a man who would change his lifeforever. Bobby Stuart was a counselor at
Tryan and a former amateur boxer.He immediately recognized Mike's raw talent and began
training him in the sweet science.Under Stuart's guidance, Mike discovered a natural
(01:53):
aptitude for boxing. He was quick, powerful, and had an innate understanding
of the sport. Stuart introduced Miketo legendary boxing trainer Couse Damatto, who
took the young fighter under his wing. Dematto saw something special in Mike,
a fire, a hunger, adetermination to be the best. He invited
(02:15):
Mike to live with him in Catskill, New York, where he could train
full time and hone his skills.For the first time in his life,
Mike had a stable home environment anda father figure who believed in him.
Dematto taught Mike the Peekaboo style ofboxing, a technique that emphasized defense and
(02:36):
counter punching. He also instilled inMike a fierce work ethic and a belief
that he was destined for greatness.Under Dematto's tutelage, Mike's talent blossomed.
He won the nineteen eighty one andnineteen eighty two Junior Olympic Games, quickly
establishing himself as one of the mostpromising young boxers in the country. In
(03:00):
nineteen eighty four, he competed inthe Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, but
lost a controversial decision in the quarterfinals. Despite the Olympic disappointment, Mike
was ready to turn pro. OnMarch sixth, nineteen eighty five, he
stepped into the ring for his firstprofessional fight against Hector Mercedes. Tyson won
(03:23):
by first round t KO, showcasingthe raw power and speed that would become
his trademark. Over the next eighteenmonths, Tyson tore through the heavyweight division
like a hurricane. He won hisfirst nineteen fights, eleven of them by
first round knockout. His quick,devastating style earned him the nickname Kid Dynamite
(03:47):
and made him a must see attraction. On November twenty second, nineteen eighty
six, at the age of justtwenty years and four months, Mike Tyson
became the youngest heavy dweight champion inhistory when he defeated Trevor Berbick by second
round TKO. He had arrived atthe pinnacle of the sport, but his
(04:09):
reign at the top would be markedby both triumph and tragedy. Chapter two,
The Reign of Iron Mike. Asthe undisputed heavyweight Champion of the World,
Mike Tyson became a global superstar.His menacing scowl, his black trunks,
his bulging muscles, they all becameiconic symbols of power and dominance.
(04:33):
He was featured on the cover ofSports, Illustrated, Time, and People.
He partied with celebrities and dated actressesand models. He was the king
of the world. In the ring, Tyson was a force of nature.
He successfully defended his title nine times, unifying the WBC, WBA, and
(04:53):
IBF belts along the way. Hedemolished opponents with a ferocity that had never
been seen before. His fights werelike watching a lion take down a gazelle,
quick, brutal, and merciless.One of Tyson's most famous fights came
on June twenty seventh, nineteen eightyeight, when he faced off against the
undefeated Michael Spinks. Spinx was askilled boxer with a thirty one zero record,
(05:18):
but he was no match for Tyson'spower. The fight lasted just ninety
one seconds, with Tyson dropping Sphinxtwice before the referee stopped the contest.
It was a stunning display of dominancethat cemented Tyson's status as the baddest man
on the planet. But as tysonstarr rose higher and higher, cracks began
(05:43):
to show in his personal life.His marriage to actress Robin Gibbons was tumultuous
and abusive. Gibvens filed for divorceafter just eight months, alleging that Tyson
had physically assaulted her on multiple occasions. Tyson's behavior outside the ring became increasingly
erratic and self destructive. He wasinvolved in street fights, car accidents,
(06:09):
and other unseemly incidents. He firedhis long time trainer, Kevin Rooney,
and surrounded himself with a new entourageof yes men and hangers on. Despite
the chaos swirling around him. Tysoncontinued to dominate in the ring. He
successfully defended his title six more times, including a ninety three second demolition of
(06:31):
Karl the Truth Williams in nineteen eightynine. But on February eleventh, nineteen
ninety, Tyson's aura of invincibility wasshattered when he lost to forty two one
underdog James Buster Douglas in Tokyo,Japan. Douglas knocked Tyson down for the
first time in his career in theeighth round and finished him off in the
(06:53):
tenth. It was a stunning upsetthat sent shockwaves through the sports world.
The loss to Douglas marked the beginningof the end for Tyson's reign at the
top. He won his next fourfights, but his personal life continued to
spiral out of control. In Julynineteen ninety one, he was arrested and
(07:14):
charged with the rape of eighteen yearold Desiree Washington, a contestant in the
Miss Black America pageant. Tyson maintainedhis innocence, but a jury found him
guilty of rape. In February nineteenninety two, he was sentenced to six
years in prison, effectively ending hisboxing career at the height of his powers,
(07:36):
Chapter three, The Wilderness Years.Mike Tyson entered the Indiana Youth Center
in March nineteen ninety two as prisonernine two two, three, three five.
For the next three years, hewould be just another number in the
correctional system, stripped of his freedom, his fame, and his fortune.
(07:58):
Prison was a humbling experienvariance for Tyson. He spent his days reading books on
history and philosophy, trying to makesense of his life and his choices.
He converted to Islam and changed hisname to Malik Abdulaziz. But even behind
bars, Tyson's star power was undeniable. He received thousands of letters from fans
(08:20):
around the world, many of themwomen, offering their love and support.
He even had a prison wedding toMonica Turner, a medical student he had
met before his incarceration. Tyson wasreleased from prison in March nineteen ninety five,
vowing to turn his life around andreclaim his spot at the top of
(08:43):
the boxing world. He quickly returnedto the ring, knocking out Peter McNeely
in just eighty nine seconds in hisfirst fight back. Over the next two
years, Tyson won six more fights, including a third round t KO of
Frank Bruno to regain the WBC heavyweighttitle, but his comeback was derailed by
(09:05):
a shocking upset loss to a VanderHolyfield in November nineteen ninety six. The
rematch with holy Field seven months laterwould become one of the most infamous fights
in boxing history. In the thirdround, Tyson bit a chunk out of
holy Field's right ear, resulting inhis disqualification and a one year suspension from
(09:28):
boxing. The ear biting incident cementedTyson's reputation as a volatile and unpredictable fighter.
He won his next few fights,but his skills were clearly diminished.
He lost the WBA title to LennoxLewis in two thousand two, and suffered
embarrassing defeats to Danny Williams and KevinMcBride in two thousand four and two thousand
(09:54):
and five, respectively. Tyson's personallife also continued to be a mess,
struggled with drug addiction, went throughtwo more divorces, and declared bankruptcy in
two thousand and three, despite havingearned over four hundred million dollars in his
career. In two thousand and six, Tyson's world came crashing down when his
(10:15):
four year old daughter, Exodus,died in a tragic accident at his home
in Arizona. The loss sent Tysoninto a deep depression and led him to
confront his own mortality Chapter four,Redemption and Legacy. In the years since
his retirement from boxing, Mike Tysonhas worked hard to rehabilitate his image and
(10:39):
find peace in his personal life.He has spoken openly about his struggles with
addiction and mental health, becoming anadvocate for sobriety and recovery. Tyson has
also found success as an entertainer,starring in a one man Broadway show about
his life and appearing in movie likeThe Hangover. He has launched his own
(11:03):
line of cannabis products and hosts apopular podcast called Hot Boxing with Mike Tyson.
But perhaps Tyson's greatest legacy is theimpact he had on the sport of
boxing. He was a once ina generation fighter who captured the imagination of
millions around the world. His quick, aggressive style and devastating power changed the
(11:28):
way people thought about heavyweights. Tyson'scareer was marked by incredible highs and devastating
lows, but through it all,he remained a larger than life figure.
He was a complex and flawed individual, but he was also a fighter in
every sense of the word. Lookingback on his life, Tyson has expressed
(11:52):
both pride and regret. He knowsthat he made mistakes and hurt people along
the way, but he also knowsthat he accomplished things that few others could
dream of. In the end,Mike Tyson's story is one of redemption and
perseverance. He faced countless obstacles andsetbacks, but he never stopped fighting.
(12:13):
He fell down many times, buthe always got back up. As Tyson
himself has said, I ain't thesame person I was when I bit that
guy's ear off. I ain't thesame person I was when I was fighting
and conquering the world. I'm notthe same person I was when I was
hanging around them bars and strip clubsand a fool. I'm just not that
(12:35):
guy any more. To day,Mike Tyson is a different man, a
man who has learned from his mistakesand is trying to make a positive impact
on the world. He is afather, a husband, and a mentor
to young fighters who look up tohim. He is also a living legend
a symbol of both the best andworst of what boxing has to offer.
(13:00):
He was a fighter who could inspire, awe and terror in equal measure,
a man who embodied the primal thrillof the sport. In the pantheon of
boxing grates, Mike Tyson stands alone. He was not the most skilled or
the most graceful, but he wasthe most ferocious, the most intimidating,
and the most electrifying. He wasthe baddest man on the planet, and
(13:26):
for that he will always be remembered. Thanks for joining us on this incredible
journey through the life and career ofMike Tyson. We hope you've been as
captivated by his story as we have, and that you've gained a new appreciation
for the man behind the legend.As we've seen, Tyson's story is one
(13:46):
of incredible highs and devastating lows,of triumph and tragedy, of redemption and
renewal. It's a story that remindsus of the power of the human spirit
and of the incredible things that canbe achieved through hard work, determination,
and an unwavering belief in oneself.If you've enjoyed this podcast, we invite
(14:09):
you to subscribe to our channel andjoin us for more incredible stories of iconic
figures from the world of sports andbeyond. From the wrestling ring to the
football field, from the basketball courtto the Olympic podium. We'll take you
behind the scenes and give you anup close and personal look at the men
(14:31):
and women who have defined their sportsand left an indelible mark on our culture.
This podcast was brought to you byQuiet Please Podcast Networks, your home
for the most compelling and engaging storiesfrom the world of sports, entertainment and
beyond. With a wide range ofshows covering everything from true crime to comedy,
(14:54):
from history to science, Quiet Pleasehas something for everyone. Again,
thanks for listening and we hope you'lljoin us again soon for another unforgettable journey
into the lives of the people whohave shaped our world. Until next time,
this is Quite Please Podcast Networks,Signing off.
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