The crowd gathered near Cus D’Amato’s KO Boxing Gym Inc., opened by the legendary trainer before he began working with Tyson, then a 13-year-old juvenile delinquent.
“This is what Cus said,’’ Tyson, now 59, told the crowd. “…He said you’re going to be the greatest fighter since the beginning of life.’’
Tyson was speaking at an event honoring D’Amato 40 years after the trainer’s death, as another notable date approached.
Nov. 15 will mark the one-year anniversary of Tyson’s fight against Jake Paul, a spectacle that Netflix livestreamed to a global audience after which Tyson looked old, discouraged and soundly beaten. A year later, questions linger.
Such as, what happened to the Baddest Man on the Planet that night?
And how has the loss impacted the once-indestructible boxer?
Why did Mike Tyson flop vs. Jake Paul?
The week after Tyson lost an eight-round bout to Paul by unanimous decision, his oldest daughter told USA TODAY she thought her father was “holding back.”
“I know all of us in our section was like, ‘Mike, what the (expletive) are you doing?’ ‘ said Michael “Miki” Tyson, 35, the oldest of Tyson’s seven children.
Mike Russell, Tyson’s top sparring partner during training camp, told USA TODAY Sports during a recent interview, “If Mike would have fought how he was sparring me, he would have knocked Jake out.’’
Russell attributed Tyson’s disappointing performance to “an off night.” Miki Tyson said it could have stemmed from medical issues. Other people were more suspicious.
On social media, skeptics accused Tyson and Paul of rigging the fight.
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), which regulates boxing in Texas, received six complaints about the fight, according to Tela Mange, Communications Manager for the TDLR. (Anyone may file a complaint about a boxing event through the agency’s online portal.)
Four complaints alleged the fight had been manipulated. One alleged Tyson had not disclosed health issues and one alleged there appeared to be a clock error in timing the rounds, according to Mange.
“All six complaints were closed because the claims were not supported by sufficient evidence,’’ Mange said.
What Mike Tyson says about his performance
A day after the fight, Tyson wrote on Instagram, “I almost died in June. Had 8 blood transfusions. Lost half my blood and 25 lbs in hospital and had to fight to get healthy to fight so I won.’’
He was referring to what his camp described as an ulcer flare-up, a well-documented medical emergency that resulted in the fight being postponed about four months.
Last weekend, Tyson addressed his performance again in what was billed as an exclusive interview with Hard Rock Bet, an online gambling app he endorses. (Tyson also has launched ‘Return of the Mike,” a one-man stage show being held at Hard Rock properties.)
‘I think I trained a little bit too intensely [for Paul], and I left most of my fight in the gym…” Tyson told Hard Rock Bet. “…I didn’t want to use that for an excuse, but I had some real bad health problems, but I’m fine now.’’
He also expressed interest in a rematch with Paul.
‘Why is Mike Tyson here?’
Tyson has said he felt depressed after the fight when the training and global attention ended. What was less clear was how the public would feel about Tyson.
The “Baddest Man on the Planet’’ façade had crumbled.
During the year leading up to the fight against Paul, Tyson appeared at no fewer than 13 events where he got paid to sign autographs and pose for photos, according to an online search. In the year since the Paul fight, he appeared at as few as eight events.
One was held June 26 at the Seventh Inning Stretch, a sports memorabilia store in Cooperstown, New York. That was the weekend of the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
“Some people (were) like, why is Mike Tyson here?’’ Vincent Carfagno, owner of the Seventh Inning Stretch, told USA TODAY Sports. “I’m, like, because he’s Mike Tyson. “
The line of people waiting to meet Tyson wrapped around the block, according to Carfagno, who said some people arrived with temporary face tattoos that matched Tyson’s.
‘Crowds are massive,” said Ryan Fiterman, who represents Tyson for celebrity bookings. ‘Bigger than ever.”
Mike Tyson’s finances
A video from 2023 shows Tyson arriving at the Fall Sport Card and Memorabilia Expo in Toronto to sign more autographs and pose for more photos.
‘For the love of money,” he says sunnily.
Two months after fighting Paul, Tyson and his wife paid $13 million for a mansion in Florida. More big paydays may be in the works after Tyson agreed to fight Floyd Mayweather in an exhibition and called for a rematch against Paul. He also seems to be generating income from several endorsement deals and his cannabis company, Tyson 2.0.
The stage show he launched last weekend could prove lucrative, too, with Netflix announcing it will premiere a taped show in 2026.
This is the same man who lost his $300 million fortune before he filed for bankruptcy in 2003.
“I wish all older fighters could end up with the ability to continue to live on their legacy the way he does,” said promoter Kathy Duva, who’s inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Has Tyson tarnished his legacy?
Tony “Two Ton’’ Galenta, a heavyweight boxer, fought a giant octopus in 1946. Galenta used the publicity stunt to promote his wrestling and bar business and to stay in the spotlight.
Tyson has not fought an octopus. Yet.
But Tyson has fought a YouTuber-turned-boxer and has agreed to an exhibition fight against 48-year-old Floyd Mayweather, who weighed 160 pounds for his most recent exhibition. Tyson weighed 228 ½ pounds for his fight against Paul.
Tyson could be 60 when he climbs into the ring again.
“I believe Tyson’s legacy will not be impaired,’’ said Tracy Callis, a boxing historian and elector to the International Boxing Hall of Fame. “When younger, he was an awesome puncher.’’
In Tyson’s prime, Callis said, he was compared to the likes of Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano. No former YouTuber can negate that, Callis indicated.
Dan Cuoco, a former director of the International Boxing Research Organization, cited Jack Johnson when asked about Tyson’s legacy. Johnson was a legendary boxer who made his pro debut at age 19 in 1897 and fought until he was 53. He also lost five of his final seven fights, yet is widely considered one of the greatest fighters of all time.
Cuoco said he considers Tyson’s last fight a loss to Kevin McBride in 2025, when Tyson was 38 and quit on his stool after the sixth round. His next sanctioned fight was 20 years later against Paul.
“Anything after that, when you come back at that kind of age…I don’t give it any credence,’’ Cuoco said. “Basically, it’s a money grab.”
Who does Mike Tyson want to be?
At the tribute for D’Amato, Tyson repeated a personal tradition: He visited his former trainer’s grave and poured champagne on the headstone.
Later, Tyson stood on the stage in front of the crowd and said he grew up with friends who were smarter and better educated.
“There was no way in the world I would do better than these guys in life,’’ Tyson said. “The next thing you know, I’m listening to this Italian guy and I’m conquering the world.’’
The Italian guy was D’Amato. He taught Tyson not only how to box, but about the power of affirmations, self-love and self-belief. A year after the trainer died, Tyson, at 19, became the youngest world heavyweight champion in boxing history.
Of course, he lost his way, too.
A divorce from his first wife, Robin Givens, who accused the boxer of physical abuse. A divorce from his second wife, Monica Turner, who accused him of infidelity. His 1992 conviction for rape. His struggle with cocaine and alcohol.
It’s debatable whether Tyson ever became the greatest fighter since the beginning of life, as Tyson says D’Amato predicted. But other things are undeniable.
He was a must-watch athlete and, for a time, the most dominant fighter of his era. He transcended boxing and became one of the world’s most recognizable sports figures. Then he became a family man.
Tyson is married to Lakiha ‘Kiki’ Spicer, and his third marriage has lasted more than 16 years. (The couple hosted the ‘Celebration of Cus” event.) Tyson also is the father of seven children. And, a year after the fight against Paul, exudes a peace that eluded him during a long, turbulent stretch of years.
“I asked for this right here,’’ Tyson said, gesturing to himself, “the man I am today.’’