Fight To Your Last Breath

In this episode

My guest today is Mike Tyson, a former heavy-weight boxing champion of the world and one of the greatest boxers of all time.

At the age of 20, he became the youngest boxer ever to win a heavyweight title. He was the first heavyweight boxer to simultaneously hold WBA, WBC, and IDF titles and a member of the international boxing Hall of Fame.

Mike has appeared in many movies and TV shows. He is the actor and creator of a one-man Broadway show Undisputed Truth, and the author of the best-selling book of the same name.

Mike is also a very successful entrepreneur and a founder of two cannabis companies, including Tyson 2.0. He is an incredible person and a dedicated philanthropist through his Mike Tyson’s Care foundation, and the support of other charities including The Make a Wish Foundation and The Special Olympics.

(1:52) Fame and money

Neither will make you happy
Become your own alarm system
The pain is the same at the top and the bottom of the world

(06:43) Three years in prison

Three best years of his life
Everything in life is psychological
Confidence brings success
Prison shifted his perspective (no one’s better than anyone else)

(11:33) Mike’s famous fights

Evander Holyfield - The Bite Fight
First fight in 1996, rematch 1997
The Sound and the Fury match
In the second fight – Mike got frustrated and got disqualified
Now they are partners
Buster Douglas – lost a fight from an underdog
Mike was happy that happened
He learned that losing is not as bad as you think
Never got discouraged in his life
Won the title again
His message to people who want to give up
The story of Don King
Adversities never stop, it’s how you handle them that can change

(19:16) Mike and Rodney Jerkins

Great friends with Rodney Jerkins Darkchild
Rodney is one of the nicest people he ever met
One of his best friends
Godley soul

(22:31) The importance of Extreme Preparation

It’s not for everyone
Balance doesn’t exist
Trained more than everyone else
Extreme preparation came from fear of failing
Everybody has a plan until they are punched in the mouth

(26:23) Life after boxing

Went totally broke after boxing and didn’t know what to do (called his wife for help and she helped him get back his life)
Discovered cannabis and got into the business
People allowed to drink and smoke on the show
Regrets he didn’t smoke pot while fighting
Mike Tyson's definition of success
The ingredients of success
What motivates Mike Tyson today?
The advice to a young boxer (prepare for disappointment and never give up and fight to your last breath)
Mike Tyson as a dad (7 kids)
Mike Tyson Cares Foundation

(39:16) Fill in the blank to Excellence