06.05.08 – by James Slater: It seems the chances of former heavyweight king Mike Tyson returning to the ring are smaller than ever right now. And while most fans will no doubt see this as a good thing, there are also many people who would welcome the excitement a Tyson comeback would create. Well, in a recent interview with ESPN, on their E:60 show, “Iron Mike” made it quite clear he is a much different person from the destructive (inside and outside the ring) heavyweight he once was..
“I don’t want to get involved with my old lifestyle, ” Tyson told ESPN. “I just want a different life now. I saw what that life got me, so I’m trying to build a new life that’s functional now. I wake up. Make my bed. Watch television. Then, I call my accountant to hear him say, “no,” he’s not going to give me any money. Controlling my spending habits is part of the change I guess,” Tyson added.
The former heavyweight ruler also admitted how hard it is living his new lifestyle. After having spent time in rehab, the 41 year old confessed he still has the urge to drink and take drugs.
“It’s a struggle, ” Tyson confessed to ESPN. “I want to take drugs every day. I want to drink every day. But I don’t because I made the commitment not to. I don’t hang out with the type of people that I normally acquainted myself with in the past because I’m not that type of person anymore.”
This really is a very open and honest interview Tyson has given. Now seemingly freely admitting he was a “bad guy,” Mike sincerely wants to turn his life around. As such, we can only wish him well. In the interview, Tyson also spoke about his prime years, when he was the single best fighter on the planet.
“Maybe I was addicted to chaos,” Mike suggested. “And that was the only way I knew how to function at that time. When I look back at the tings I’ve done in my life, I realise that I brought them upon myself and now I have to deal with the responsibility – and I don’t like that,” the 41 year old revealed.
Mike also informed his audience how he was unable even to enjoy his finest victory, the 1st round KO of Michael Spinks in 1988 – commonly thought to have been Tyson’s peak performance.
“I couldn’t really enjoy that victory because I had so much chaos going on in my life at that time,” Mike said. “I had my wife fighting with my managers and I had three girlfriends in the audience. It was just a mess,” Tyson lamented.
It was indeed, and it is to be hoped Mike Tyson, now in his early forties, has at last found peace.