Mike Tyson, once known as the "Baddest Man on the Planet" and former heavyweight champion of the world is back in boxing, but not as a sad, shot fighter risking his life for a paycheck. Tyson has returned as a promoter, and his first fight, a super bantamweight title collision between beltholder Argenis Mendez and challenger Arash Usmanee, will take place Friday on ESPN2.
Tyson has been through trials and tribulations since he entered this world, but among those troubles was an ongoing feud with his former promoter Don King. In discussing his new career path Tyson was asked what he'd learned from King in the past. Tyson's response was harsh:
"If I learned something [from King], it was how to manipulate my fighters and take advantage of them and tell them lies, tell them I love them and that the white man hates them and that we're [expletive] together, we're brothers together and everybody is against us," Tyson said.
The two appeared at the Boxing Hall of Fame banquet in Las Vegas recently and had hugged it out, apparently burying the hatchet. While Tyson clearly still harbors resentment, he did say he has forgiven King.
"At the end of the day, I can have their money in my pocket and they'd be walking the streets feeling sorry for themselves and attempt suicide and use cocaine and overdose, just like I did," Tyson said. "But like I said before, I forgave him, and whatever I did to him, I hope he forgives me. I don't have any hard feelings toward him."
Tyson admitted that as recently as five years ago he was heavily using drugs and contemplating suicide. The tragic 2009 death of his four-year-old daughter Exodus , who was accidentally strangled by a cord while playing on a treadmill played a part in his near-demise.
"I was planning to kill myself," he said. "I was just going full-blown [overdosing on drugs] every night. I was like, 'Arrrgh!'" Now, though, Tyson says he is completely clean and is receiving all the help he needs from his wife Kiki. He is still being crushed by mountainous debt, but he hopes that he can manage his payments and live peacefully.
"I don't want to be wealthy again. I just want to pay my bills and live my life in peace," Tyson said.
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