I was a huge boxing fan at one point in my life so I guess I am what you would call a “retro” boxing fan. I watched all of the Ali / Foreman / Norton bouts during the 1970’s. Followed Sugar Ray Leonard from the Olympics through all of his title bouts in the 1980’s. And of course there’s Mike Tyson. I followed him both in and out of the ring into the 1990’s. I have to admit that after Tyson boxing lost it’s appeal for me. After all of Tyson’s antics he also fell off my radar, until recently.
Lately it seems like Mike Tyson is everywhere…
Tyson appeared in the movie The Hangover in 2009 and then made another appearance in the sequel The Hangover II in 2011. He also appeared in Scary Movie 5 and Law And Order SVU this year.
He just finished touring with his one man show titled Undisputed Truth, produced by Spike Lee. I am sorry that I missed this show on broadway, as the reviews were very good.
While promoting the show, Tyson opened up to the “Today Show” on the moment he realized he wanted to live a cleaner, healthier lifestyle. “I just threw up the white flag,” he said to then “Today Show” correspondent, Ann Curry. “There was too many prison cells, too many jails, too many lawsuits, too many bankruptcies, too many women, too many venereal diseases, too many everything.” “I got tired. I really got tired of, you know, like every time a prostitute –- I would head back from a trip — I had to sleep with her. So I just said, ‘I’m going to live a different life.’”
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Iron Mike landed a book deal with Penguin Group imprint, Blue Rider Press in preparation of his forthcoming tell-all memoir aptly titled, “Undisputed Truth.” The book which is supposed to be released some time this summer will reveal in depth details of his tumultuous career and personal life including his much publicized marriage to Robin Givens and losing his $400 million fortune. Can’t wait to read this one…
Also, it now it looks like Tyson will have an animated series airing on Adult Swim during the 2013-2014 season called Mike Tyson Mysteries. The synopsis of the cartoon series which will air in 15 minute segments is below:
In the new animated comedy series Mike Tyson Mysteries, Mike Tyson is taking the fight from the boxing ring to the streets… by solving mysteries! Armed with a magical tattoo on his face and a trusty associate by his side — a talking pigeon — if you have a problem that needs solving, Iron Mike is in your corner. The series incorporates live-action appearances featuring Mighty Mike himself, and the gloves come off as the former heavyweight champ and his fowl-mouthed partner gear up for weekly adventures as they put unsolved mysteries — like how to defeat a super computer at chess or why a famous author/werewolf can’t finish his novel — down for the count.
I can’t wait to see the foul-mouthed pigeon…kind of like a cross between the Harlem Globetrotters and Scooby Doo…with a foul mouthed pigeon…have mercy!
