Michael Gerard "Mike" Tyson is an American retired professional boxer. Tyson is a former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight titles at 20 years, 4 months, and 22 days old. Tyson won his first 19 professional bouts by knockout, 12 of them in the first round. He won the WBC title in 1986 after defeating Trevor Berbick by a TKO in the second round. In 1987, Tyson added the WBA and IBF titles after defeating James Smith and Tony Tucker. He was the first heavyweight boxer to simultaneously hold the WBA, WBC and IBF titles, and the only heavyweight to successively unify them. In 1988, Tyson became the lineal champion when he knocked out Michael Spinks after 91 seconds. Tyson successfully defended the world heavyweight championship nine times, including victories over Larry Holmes and Frank Bruno. In 1990, he lost his titles to underdog James "Buster" Douglas, by a knockout in round 10. Attempting to regain the titles, he defeated Donovan Ruddock twice in 1991, but he pulled out of a fight with undisputed heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield due to injury.
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» All Professional Boxer InterviewsHey Reddit! I am former heavyweight champion, actor, producer, promoter, performer, and all around nice guy, Mike Tyson.
I am back in boxing! Now as an entertainer/promoter. I am hosting a huge event in Miami this Thursday July 10th - if you are in the area get your tickets now: http://bit.ly/1lOg8vS
Or watch the championship action LIVE on FOX SPORTS 1 @ 10pm
Ask me anything about my life, my career or my upcoming night of entertainment.
I will be picking my favorite question and answering it LIVE on the FOX SPORTS 1 broadcast Thursday night. I will give a shout out to the Reddit community!
Proof: https://twitter.com/MikeTyson/status/486572033581391873
EDIT: Sorry I couldn't answer everyone's questions, but I want to thank you all for participating. Sorry I have to get going now, a lot of work to do preparing for my show Thursday night. I have a few quesitons picked, but will select one to answer live on FOX Sports 1 Thursday night, please watch!
Do you think you can beat Buzz Aldrin's AMA that is running in parallel?
I probably won't... I have never gone to the moon.
If Buzz had got into the ring with me I could have sent him to the moon without the rocket ship.
Hi Mike,
Thanks for doing this AMA!
My question is have you been able to defeat yourself in the game “Mike Tyson’s Punch Out?”
Never ever!
I have lost to Glass Joe before.
Blessed by Mike Tyson at Birth:
Hi Mike, I have a question about a story I've been telling people my whole life. Let me start by saying this is a second-hand account, as i was in the womb at the time. 1 day before my Mother went into labor in Los Angeles, 1988, she was rushed to the hospital by my Dad. Unable to find help at the front door, my Dad ran into the hospital looking for a wheelchair, and a nurse to assist my pregnant mother. As the story goes, he turned a corner to see you with two friends, or members of your entourage. Instantly recognizing you, he yelled "Mike, Mike.. my wife's about to give birth, can you help?" You immediately found a nurse, got my mother a wheelchair, and before you left, you touched my Mother's stomach and said "everything's going to be alright. He'll be a fighter, I know it." I've always been a big supporter of yours because you helped bring me into this world, and I'll be forever grateful for that.
My question for you is... do you remember this happening? I've been curious my whole life.
Thanks,
-Alex
I'm going to have to be honest with you, I don't remember that my friend, but thank you very much.
do you regret telling that guy you were going to eat his children?
Yeah I guess I do
Hardest opponent you've faced inside and outside of the boxing ring?
Me, Mike Tyson.
Hey Mike, do you still do much with pigeons? Are there any other birds you're into?
I still have my Pigeons, about 2500 still. Only Pigeons though - no other birds.
What is your biggest achievement in life?
Stop drinking and using drugs.
And being a present father.
Is there anything you've seen written or said about yourself in the media that you want everyone to know is absolutely not true?
The part where they say I am a bad person.
Hey Champ,
As a former professional athlete that was suspended from boxing after your biting incident, what are your thoughts on Luis Suarez getting suspended from the World Cup for his habit of biting opponents? What drives highly competitive athletes to bite? Is it all instinct? Intimidation? Do you think he got what he should have, with regards to suspension (he's done it THREE times)?
I think it is just the heat of the moment, really hot blooded and really competitive. The heat of the moment takes over us, we are really competitive and lose bad judgement in our thinking. Sometimes you can just become highly frustrated.
Mike could you explain the face tattoo for us?
It is the Maui symbol from the ancient native warriors.
Hey Mike, huge fan here. If you could step in the ring with any fighter in history, who would it be? Thank you for doing this, glad to know you're still doing what you love.
Me of course - Mike Tyson
Considering that you guys are on good ground now, do you and Evander Holyfields joke about the ear incident that happened decades ago?
Nah not really.
Mike Tyson!! Big fan Mike not only of you as a fighter but you as a person as well.
How close were you with Tupac? What's your favorite memory of him?
He was a really good guy, really nice guy, really close good friend of mine. Favorite memory was when I saw him in a club and he got on the mic and really took over the party - he was 19 years old then.
What are some of the most important things that you've learned in life?
You have to be humble in life, and if you are not humble, life will make you humble.
How have concusions and head blows affected your health after retirement?
I have no idea, maybe I am able to speak better now.
I went in talking funny and came out talking funny!
Iron Mike!
How was it to hit Zach Galifianakis?
Well I didn't really hit Zach, but he is a good sport.
Hello Mr. Tyson! I have a friend, huge fan, who wanted me to ask you a couple questions, and I'm just as eager to hopefully see an answer!
There's a lot of talk that Wladimir Klitschko has been reigning heavyweight champ for so long because there aren't any good heavyweight fighters left. Do you think this is the case or do you think Klitschko would still have been a formidable heavyweight champion even in the golden age?
It seems like a lot of people also question the legitimacy of Floyd
Mayweather's undefeated record accusing him of cherry-picking his fights, what's your opinion on him?
I think he would have done well in any era.
Floyd, I don't know. He has beaten everyone he has fought. He is the cream of the crop.
I would love to see him fight Pacquiao though.
How was it working with the WWE and how do you feel about being in the Hall of Fame?
Working with the WWE was a life saver. I am the only boxer to be in the WWE HOF as well as the boxing HOF.
Hey champ, do you think you could have taken Dredrick Tatum in a fight?
No I can't beat anyone anymore.
hey mike, big fan here and love what you've done for the sport as well as your recent involvement in MMA and pranking dana on his plane.
my question to you is this; why do you love MMA so much?
Because it is real raw and exciting.
Hey Mike, how has New York changed since you were growing up?
Too many people, so many cameras, it's just overwhelming.
I even went to my old neighborhood, it was a dangerous neighborhood growing up - now there is a Whole Foods down there - they are building the neighborhoods up now, there is no more ghettos.
Sometimes I go to my old neighborhood, and think to myself was my whole life a lie - you don't see the bunch of guys hanging out on the corner anymore, now you see a whole bunch of white people.
Hey Iron Mike. I'm old enough to have seen your whole career. You were an amazing and punishing boxer. Who was the toughest opponent you ever faced?
Probably Holyfield and Razor Ruddock
Hello Mr. Tyson,
Who do you think does the best impression of you?
Thanks!
Maybe Jamie Fox.
Hi Mike Tyson! Thank you for doing this AMA. I've been a fan since I was 5 years old and I saw your fight against Michael Spinks. You got me into boxing and I never looked back. I sometimes wish I could walk out to the sound of chains wearing only black shorts, black shoes, no socks. Back in 2011, you did a meet and greet at a local hobby shop in Las Vegas. I was on my bachelor party then and just happened to stumble across the store and see that you were appearing for photos that day. Being a long time fan, my buddies helped paid to take a photo with you. It was one of the best presents my friends could have done for me. http://i.imgur.com/okn0IOL.jpg
There are so many questions I want to ask, but what's your favorite punch or combo? My favorite combo you deploy is the right hook to the body to right uppercut. It's so devastating and fast. Before they can react to the body blow, you've already knocked their teeth out!
Left jab, straight right hand. One/two.. boom boom
I throw it real fast because my objective is to hear those two punches sound as close to one as possible. My intention is to knock him out, but my objective is to make the two punches sound as close to one as possible.
Mike, got any words of advice to kids / teens who want to take up boxing?
You have to be dedicated, you have to have a monogamous relationship to it. You have to be dedicated to it and have to respect it.
I have a fighter Erikson Lubin who displays all of these characteristics, it is his life - I tell him this all the time. He has to be married to it and dedicated to it.
I've recently started training at a boxing gym. What workouts did you like for working head movement and defense besides sparring?
Thanks for doing this AMA.
Just having someone throw punches at your head and you can't throw back - that is how you develop good defense.
What are your thoughts on Al Haymon and how he "protects" his fighters?
Anyone in this business knows you have to match your fighters smart, sometimes people see this as "protecting" them. I am not into that politics of the game, if that is what he does. I am worried about Iron Mike Productions!
I am a promoter as well and if you watch the last fight for my boxer Mendez, you'll see that he was hit after the bell. I believe in fighting for your fighters - I fought to get the belt back for him and this upcoming rematch Thursday night. You have to protect your fighters.
I don't talk negative about anyone, I just want to the best fighters fight the best fighters in the world.
What kind of training do you do? Weights, cardio, drills?
Pretty much all of that stuff, simple stuff now.
Hi Mike! Thanks for doing this AMA. I'd like to ask, what makes a good fighter in your opinion?
His determination and desire to be the best in the world.
Mike, my family and i used to get up in the middle of the night (Europe) to watch you fight. It was worth it.
You had anger, but beside that.
What is your main motivation tips for people
to achieve great things?
Stay dedicated.
Iron Mike, honored that you might be reading this - huge fan of yours brother. Now that you're making the transition into promoting, how will your philosophy differ from those who promoted your fights as an athlete?
Basically I want to match my fighters against guys of equal quality. I think those make the best fights, I just want to give fans exciting fights. They need to matched up evenly and need to be action fighters, guys that throw a lot of punches.