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Tyson speaks out Fighter goes one-on-one with CNNSI.com
Posted: Thursday January 27, 2000 04:22 PM
There are approximately 12 million people who live in greater London. And since Mike Tyson has hit town to prepare for Saturday night's bout against local Julius Francis, it seems that half the population has tracked his every move. CNNSI.com's senior correspondent Nick Charles sat down privately with the former heavyweight champion to talk about Tyson's fighting, family and future. Nick Charles : I know you are here to fight, but based on the reception you have gotten from Britain, it's bordered on hysteria. People seem to love you. Mike Tyson : I don't know. That's how it should have always been. American people in general, cast such a dark shadow over me and makes it look as though I'm a monster-to-be. I feel sometimes that they should just take me outside in a public square and shoot me in the head if they really feel I'm that bad. I believe if me and [serial killer] Jeffrey Dahmer were in a lineup and they said, "We know the crimes these guys committed. But who do you hate the most? Who do you think we should kill?" Everyone would point to me. Charles : Do you really believe that? Tyson : Hell, yeah! Hell, yeah! Charles : So you like fighting here then and you might fight here again? Tyson : Yeah, I like to fight here. I'd like to fight here in the big arena and I'd like to go to Australia and fight. Charles : Along the way though there's Julius Francis. What do you know about him and does that matter? Tyson : I don't know and I don't care. I'm here for a job. And he's in my way. Charles : If you take us through the scenario then, you know they've built this bout between two "street guys." If it gets down and dirty, what happens? Tyson : Listen, alright if it gets down and dirty I hope this guy gets disqualified [laughing]. I don't know man, please, that's just a stereotype. I'm sure he's a respectable man. He's a Brit. Most of them are and I'm a pretty much of a level-headed cat if you don't push me too hard. I'm sure it will be alright. Charles : What's coming together and where are the holes? Tyson : I just need to believe in myself and know that I'm here for a reason. Before, I just fought because I had fun and things were going on in my life. I would go out for three weeks or four weeks and then go to a fight without training because it was all a joke back then. Charles Because you could get away with it?
Charles : You're in the ring now, you're 33 and terms of the skills we were talking about, I know you want to recapture that glory. And you want the title again. Tyson : Listen, can I tell you something? I feel great. I feel like I'm 19, 18 years old. You know what I mean? I'm getting back the desire and the fire to really do this again. These guys [critics, media] have beaten me down so much I just hated myself and everything around me. And now my life is coming about and I'm doing things and I'm making tons of money and all that stuff is coming back. And just to know that I blew a half-a-billion dollars [shakes his head]. Charles : Mike, it sounds like you've come to grips with yourself and said, "Look, I'm a guy who squandered a lot of money and maybe squandered a great gift. and it's time not to do that anymore. Tyson : I don't let people tell me that. I ain't squandered no great gift. I'm still fighting, still hitting. Listen, what I've been through, I should be a f-----g nut. I should be a nut. I should be in the corner just picking up cans or something like that. I look at myself and say God, I was just 18 years old. I was a young millionaire, running around and not thinking about anything. Now everything is responsibilities, responsibilities, responsibilities. Charles : In terms of the road now, I mean what do you need now to get to the championship? Tyson : If only I do what I'm doing now. Stay in training with my coaches and train and just fight.
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