Original Air Date:
Monday, October 12, 2009
Guests:
Oprah welcomed former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson to the show.
Show Summary:
For the first time ever, Oprah welcomed former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson to the show for an very open interview, discussing everything from childhood to children to drugs. The often controversial fighter showed a new side of his life, a drastic alternative to his "Iron Mike" persona so many viewers are familiar with. Having the chance to see the life events that drove the man behind the gloves on stage with Oprah and also in the documentary Tyson was what Oprah called a study in humanity. While Mike Tyson lived his life to the extreme, at the core of it all was a set of very relatable qualities; many demonstrated during the interview.
Special Highlights:
Oprah's interview with Mike Tyson featured the following highlights:
- Bullied as a child, Mike first started fighting to defend himself.
- After his mother died when he was 16, Mike was taken in by his trainer, who taught him to be a god in the ring. After he died, Mike shared he felt very alone.
- Mike Tyson began drinking and drug use to cope with his emotions.
- Through prison, bankruptcy, failed marriages, abusive relationships and drug use, Mike Tyson has learned how to better control himself and focus on his children, who he says are the most important in his life.
- Mike is now married for the 3rd time and has a 9 month old daughter. He works hard to stay true to his new path and raise his children.
What to Take Away from the Show:
This interview with Mike Tyson was one of the most surprising hours of television I may have ever seen. If there was any celebrity that seemed to live out their persona through and through their career, it was Mike Tyson. While "Iron Mike" was who I expected to see, Oprah represented her own words and gave viewers a study in humanity watching Mike Tyson reveal a depth to his life never before seen on television. The Mike Tyson image in the past was one of a soft-spoken warrior, but with this interview, Mike revealed moments in his history that made him very relatable to a large audience and brought an understanding to the events in his troubled past.
Products Featured in This Episode:
Film Documentary 'Tyson'
James Toback
The documentary Tyson from director James Toback, was released in April of 2009 and chronicles the life of former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson. In the film, Mike speaks openly about his life growing up in Brooklyn and working to become and feared and dominant fighter.
