29.09.06 – Mike Tyson: “I lived not too far from here. I’m happy to be here. It’s going to be great.”
Q: Why are you doing this?
“I was a little overweight, smoking too much, and I started to get in shape. I was training in Las Vegas and 2000 people a day were there. Why not do an exhibition? Sterling suggested we do a world tour.”
Q: Why Youngstown?
Tyson: “I go where I’m wanted. There’s a great boxing tradition and interest here.”
Q: What do you think about the heavyweight champions and would you consider fighting any of them?
“Anybody can beat you from the couch. I don’t think these guys are as bad as people say. They work hard to fight 12 rounds.
You can’t take anything away from them. Any champion has talent; the will to win is a talent. I don’t know; if I don’t get out of this financial quagmire. The money I make (from this) isn’t going to help my bills, but I’ll feel better and won’t be depressed.”
“Once I started training, the stress left. I can’t believe I’m not slurring, I’m not angry. Life’s lessons are priceless. I’m happy to be here.”
“I’m truly nervous. I haven’t done this for a while.”
“I hate the business of boxing. When I said I hated boxing I meant getting to run and giving it the 100-percent you need.”
“I’m in better shape than I anticipated, I’ll never been in the shape like I was young.”
“I’m extremely nervous right now.”
Q: What’s this exhibition going to be like?
Tyson: “Whatever happens; if he (Corey Sanders) starts winging, I’ll start winging.”
Q: How many exhibitions and where will the tour be?
Tyson: One hundred. One hundred times 4 (rounds) is as many rounds as I fought my whole career. This tour is going all over the world. Europe, Asia, Middle East. Everybody is bidding in anticipation and calling Sterling.”
Q: What have you learned since you haven’t fought in 16 months?
Tyson: “I learned life is short and very unpredictable. You have to stay humble and not get too emotional. I’m trying to keep my cool.”
Sterling McPherson: “It’s great to be back home. I grew up about 10 miles from here in Niles. This has been something we’ve been working on for some time. To put the tour together, it’s taken time to mold it, and it’ll get off the ground in Youngstown. We’re thrilled, Mike’s ready to go. He’s here. I have to thank Darryl Francis and Jeff Fenech for bringing to Mr.
Tyson (with the idea for a world tour). You’re going to see a great show. Juan McPherson missed out on his opportunity to make the Olympics. Mike has given me this opportunity and I’m giving Juan this opportunity. I believe he will be a world champion some day. We are still in negotiations with Paul Spadafora. We’re almost there and I think it’ll be there in a day or so.”
“This tour isn’t just going to be an undercard with guys knocking everybody out and then Mike Tyson. We are going to have a solid undercard with young fighters who want to be in good fights. That’s why people put there money out.”
“You’re looking at an icon. He was the youngest man in history to win the heavyweight championship. Then he went onto annihilate people. He’s the second coming of Joe Louis, quiet at press conferences when other fighters talked big. Mike’s giving me the opportunity of a lifetime. This tour is all about him and the people getting an opportunity of a lifetime to see Mike Tyson for $25.00. That’s what he (Tyson) wants to do because you supported him.
“This is a great step forward, starting the tour here. I was adamant about Youngstown and Mike supported me. Where ever we go it’ll be up to Mike. I’ll present all of the offers, all the economics, why we should go there, and Mike will make the call.”
Jeff Fenech: “I’m happy to be helping Mike Tyson again. He’s a great friend. He’s done so much for so many people. He’ll be prepared for Corey Sanders, the person who knocked out heavyweight champion Oleg Maskaev. Mike will be fit and ready to go.”