Mike Tyson's Autobiography, a paraphrase

[jamesmcdonnell]

My life was mental growing up.

I got into boxing, I met Cus. I found a purpose.

Cus died.

I became world champ, I fucked loads of bitches, I drank LOADS.

I'm not that guy any more.

The end.

P.S - I didn't rape her.

Bits of it are quite funny/elucidating, but on the whole, really, really, really, really, really ....etc..................repetitive.

Why didn't someone edit this shit down and get to the core of it, Mike is an interesting guy, but this book is far too indulgent, his ghost writer should have got a hold of it.

[Andrew]

The book was probably discussed on the forum last year when it came out.

I really enjoyed it up to say after the ear bite. Then all it was 'did loads of drugs shagged loads of women and repeat and get better at the end.

[Happy Slapper]

I think a lot of it is elaborated as well.

The bit about his training camp for the Lennox fight really pissed me off. Basically said that all he did all training camp was get hammered and nail everyone.

I'm sorry, but nobody goes 8 rounds with an ATG heavyweight if all they've done is drunk alcohol all through their training camp. It's nonsense. Why can't he come out and say "I trained for that fight but at that stage of our careers Lennox was just too good for me"? It's just disrespectful, and I'm not buying it.

For what it's worth, I think Lennox batters him at any stage of their careers....

[handsofstone]

I seen it yesterday but thought better than to buy it,i remember everyone said it was repetitive and he basically just bleats on about shagging and drug use and its basically a load of shite

As much as i love Tyson and he seems to have calmed right down,the demons are still there clear to see

I shouldve bought Jimmy Tibbs book as i had it in my hand,books are effing expensive to buy new are they

[Rexob]

I think a lot of it is elaborated as well.

The bit about his training camp for the Lennox fight really pissed me off. Basically said that all he did all training camp was get hammered and nail everyone.

I'm sorry, but nobody goes 8 rounds with an ATG heavyweight if all they've done is drunk alcohol all through their training camp. It's nonsense. Why can't he come out and say "I trained for that fight but at that stage of our careers Lennox was just too good for me"? It's just disrespectful, and I'm not buying it.

For what it's worth, I think Lennox batters him at any stage of their careers....

Tyson did and it still took Big Lenny 8 rounds HA HA! Tyson would have destroyed Lewis when they where 20/21

[lillywhite14]

Lewis wasn't even a pro at that age

They could never have faced each other in their respective primes. Tyson's prime was pre-jail ( Douglas very much INCLUDED ) and Lewis didn't hit his peak until he was around 33, which was late 90's

There is a very interesting book in Tyson but from what I've read, this one isn't it!

[Rexob]

Lewis wasn't even a pro at that age

They could never have faced each other in their respective primes. Tyson's prime was pre-jail ( Douglas very much INCLUDED ) and Lewis didn't hit his peak until he was around 33, which was late 90's

There is a very interesting book in Tyson but from what I've read, this one isn't it!

Like I say Tyson would have demolished Lewis when they where 20/21

[el_grande_mauro_mina]

Lewis had the tendency to 'fall asleep' during fights and a win against Tyson in both their primes is nowhere near guaranteed, Tyson showed he could neutralise a good, tall boxer with excellent movement with his 1987 win over Tony Tucker.

As for Tyson and his fight vs Lewis - he looked well out of it mentally, it wouldn't surprise me if he did actually drink and take drugs to the lead up.

[moogie101]

Yeah I got that last year & instead of the in-depth I'd hoped for about Tyson's training & actual fights the book seemed to be more focused on the women & the drugs. Very disappointing book.

[SNG]

Tyson was scared going into that fight, remember that rant at the press? I'm not criticising him for it, but imagine knowing you're at that stage of your career going against a near prime fighter like Lewis, better and more destructive than any man he'd ever faced.

[Andrew]

Tyson was scared going into that fight, remember that rant at the press? I'm not criticising him for it, but imagine knowing you're at that stage of your career going against a near prime fighter like Lewis, better and more destructive than any man he'd ever faced.

You referring to this one ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdPE2KsFBG4

Remember in his book says he was really high on drugs when he did it.

[reggaereggae]

It was both a depressing and disappointing book. Tyson comes out looking like a total piece of sh1t, a horrible egotist and bully throughout the book.

The book also seemed thin on actual boxing content.

[SNG]

Tyson was scared going into that fight, remember that rant at the press? I'm not criticising him for it, but imagine knowing you're at that stage of your career going against a near prime fighter like Lewis, better and more destructive than any man he'd ever faced.

You referring to this one ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdPE2KsFBG4

Remember in his book says he was really high on drugs when he did it.

Yeah that's it. I always thought he was scared, he seems like he's nearly crying.

[tonyevs]

It's funny how now years later Lennox is remembered as something he rarely was during his career.
He could be more cautious than the lesser Klitchko ...

Funny thing is. If Tyson was at his prime when he met Lewis, then we prob would have seen the best of Lewis. He fought best when scared.
Against the washed up Tyson he fought he was still too cautious.

[lillywhite14]

It's funny how now years later Lennox is remembered as something he rarely was during his career.
He could be more cautious than the lesser Klitchko ...

Funny thing is. If Tyson was at his prime when he met Lewis, then we prob would have seen the best of Lewis. He fought best when scared.
Against the washed up Tyson he fought he was still too cautious.

Lewis always performed best when deemed to be facing a real challenge ( Ruddock, Golota, Grant, Holyfield 1 ) He was way too cautious against Tyson, he could have got him out a lot sooner than when he did.

[MrJasonM]

Interesting to hear peoples opinions on the book, I really enjoyed it.

Admittedly it was repetitive but I thought to myself that was just the book giving a true reflection on his life at the time, he was just doing the same things over and over.

I do think it could have been a bit shorter, but I really enjoyed it. I can see the point that it is light on actual boxing, however I think that reflects Tyson isnt as in love with the sport as he once was. He mentions throughout the book, especially in the first half, how he would watch loads of boxing and be a real anorak about the sport, but after the life he has had so far and his career the passion for boxing isnt there as much as it used to be.

Just my opinion but I would say it is well worth a read if you want to get to know a little bit more about the man.

[Syntax Error]

I think a lot of it is elaborated as well.

The bit about his training camp for the Lennox fight really pissed me off. Basically said that all he did all training camp was get hammered and nail everyone.

I'm sorry, but nobody goes 8 rounds with an ATG heavyweight if all they've done is drunk alcohol all through their training camp. It's nonsense. Why can't he come out and say "I trained for that fight but at that stage of our careers Lennox was just too good for me"? It's just disrespectful, and I'm not buying it.

For what it's worth, I think Lennox batters him at any stage of their careers....

Lewis did carry Tyson; more out of extreme caution than malice though.

Tyson was done & dusted after two rounds & Lewis could & should have finished him.

Tyson also practically begged his corner to pull him out after the 7th by telling his trainer he was "I'm done", "I'm gone", yet they didn't & sent him out for the 8th!

[stevieb_8006]

Tysons book was incredibly boring. Poor me, poor me, poor me.... Seems to think the world owes him something.

[DavidPayne]

Tysons book was incredibly boring. Poor me, poor me, poor me.... Seems to think the world owes him something.

Just a decent father.

[stevieb_8006]

Tysons book was incredibly boring. Poor me, poor me, poor me.... Seems to think the world owes him something.

Just a decent father.

No excuse for his behaviour tho. He's a grown man. He still lived a shady life even when he had it all on a plate and what's worse is he knew he was doing wrong as well. I've got a shit dad, so have millions of others, we still tow the line.

I was his biggest fan, but now I think fornicate him, grow up for gods sake. Which to be fair, it seems like he might be doing at last after that tragedy with his daughter.

[187]

Thought it was good, personally I find most sporting autobiographies are absolute sh1t but this one was certainly better than most of the others.

[DavidPayne]

Tysons book was incredibly boring. Poor me, poor me, poor me.... Seems to think the world owes him something.

Just a decent father.

No excuse for his behaviour tho. He's a grown man. He still lived a shady life even when he had it all on a plate and what's worse is he knew he was doing wrong as well. I've got a poo dad, so have millions of others, we still tow the line.

I was his biggest fan, but now I think eff him, grow up for gods sake. Which to be fair, it seems like he might be doing at last after that tragedy with his daughter.

Give you 200 million when you're 21 with no guidance. Would have fkker most of us up.
Besides, I think he was entitled to feel he was owed a father. Answering the point above.

[tobyh5]

Wow, trying to imagine you have a clue how someone should turn out if they grow up where and how he did and label it that he simply did not have a father like millions of others is skipping past a lot of realities.

I do not think many of us here can comprehend what it is like to have grown up in that area of New York where shootings, drugs, prostitution is the norm, where kids take guns to school, where you are running so wild is alien to most if not all in the UK I would imagine. Then at 19 years of age he was given stunning amounts of money (remember he came from an area that you stole to get $20 and he was already pulling in hundreds of thousands before he was 20), fame, adulation, one of the most recognizable faces on the planet, women throwing themselves at him, people trying to get close to get hold of the money and position and we want to sit here on a British boxing forum, all pretty normal working class guys and try and pretend we can understand any of that?

Ha, sure sure.

[stevieb_8006]

Give you 200 million when you're 21 with no guidance. Would have fkker most of us up.
Besides, I think he was entitled to feel he was owed a father. Answering the point above.

Yeah maybe. But to still be making those mistakes in his 40s is a bit tragic. And he uses the past as a crutch to cling to, he's not in the hood anymore and hasn't been for decades. He was basically handed the opportunity to leave that life behind at 14 and was treated well yet still doesn't see how blessed he's been.

[stevieb_8006]

Wow, trying to imagine you have a clue how someone should turn out if they grow up where and how he did and label it that he simply did not have a father like millions of others is skipping past a lot of realities.

I do not think many of us here can comprehend what it is like to have grown up in that area of New York where shootings, drugs, prostitution is the norm, where kids take guns to school, where you are running so wild is alien to most if not all in the UK I would imagine. Then at 19 years of age he was given stunning amounts of money (remember he came from an area that you stole to get $20 and he was already pulling in hundreds of thousands before he was 20), fame, adulation, one of the most recognizable faces on the planet, women throwing themselves at him, people trying to get close to get hold of the money and position and we want to sit here on a British boxing forum, all pretty normal working class guys and try and pretend we can understand any of that?

Ha, sure sure.

Regardless of whether we understand it or not, it was his choice to stay in that sort of lifestyle. He was out of Brownsville by 14 and in a relatively stable set up. At what point do you draw the line and say mike you are STILL making the same mistakes.. He's had it rough to begin with, so did pacquiao but he didn't choose such a self absorbed path. He was watching soldiers behead rebels in his back garden at the age of five but you don't hear him constantly go on about how hard done by he is.