Archived Q&A with Mike Tyson

• Q

  

  HBO

  Thank you Mike Tyson for joining us today. Mike, what was your favorite part about taping your Real Sports segment?

  Share

  A

  

  Mike Tyson says:

  I don't know because when I was taping it, I was shooting it most of the time. It was awesome being in Real Sports with Bernie Goldberg! Bernie was an awesome guy.

• Q

  

  Mark Tereschenko

  Throughout all the difficult times, how and in what did you find inspiration to keep going and keep grinding and working hard ?

  Share

  A

  

  Mike Tyson says:

  In my difficult times, I just wanted God to get my through them. I have a lot of faith and hope.

• Q

  

  GK Rowe

  What is the hardest single punch you hit someone with in the ring in your prime?

  Share

  A

  

  Mike Tyson says:

  I have no idea! I have to go ask everyone I hit before!!!

• Q

  

  Marco DiMichele

  Mike, HUGE fan of yours since the '80s. Out of all the things the late great Cus D'Amato taught you, what was the greatest?

  Share

  A

  

  Mike Tyson says:

  Determination, Refusing to Use and LIfe. It's to fight life. He believed in never giving up in life. He was a man of conflict, he was a Roman gladiator, an amazing man. He never believed in defeat. If you look at defeat properly it's a victory. He was a strong believer in overcoming adversity.

• Q

  

  Lars Midthun

  Will "The undisputed truth" be out on DVD any time soon,or ever? There are alot of us that would love to see the show but don`t have a chance to get to a big L.V theatre or ANY U.S theatre for that matter....

  Share

  A

  

  Mike Tyson says:

  Well I'm on tour right now around the country. I believe we will be filming. I heard Spike talking about filming in NYC, I believe it will be on DVD.

• Q

  

  DreDonJaun23

  Hey Iron mike glad to see you in such great spirits my question is ,How did you know boxing was meant for you?

  Share

  A

  

  Mike Tyson says:

  I don't think I was born to be the best boxer, but I had a lot of belief and faith in my mentor. I believed in him more than I believed in myself.

• Q

  

  DonToan

  Hey Champ, what does your diet consist of these days? I hope all is well with you, you're one of my idols, truly.

  Share

  A

  

  Mike Tyson says:

  Totally vegan meal. Up in the morning we eat homefries, fake cheese, fake meat and we put it in a bun. I'm pretty vegan here. Vegan milk, cookies, potatoes. We eat a lot of Indian food too because it's pretty vegetarian.

• Q

  

  juliogomezcruz

  Hey mike who was your favorite boxer growing up and how did they inspire you?

  Share

  A

  

  Mike Tyson says:

  Roberto Duran. The reason why he inspired me is even though Ali was a black fighter, Ali didn't remind me of anything of myself. He was tall, I was short. Duran was really ethnic like me and eccentric. At that stage I could relate to someone like him, he was a street guy with bad English. I respected Ali from a pride perspective but in terms of a personality I LOVE DURAN! He was my kind of guy.

• Q

  

  gluckstadt

  Hey Mike, how does preparing for the stage compare to getting ready for a big fight?

  Share

  A

  

  Mike Tyson says:

  It's pretty much the same. A lot of repetition. The only difference is that I don't have to go to the hospital afterwards.

• Q

  

  jackDripper8

  Hey Mike, based on your experience, what are the best meals I can eat when I'm a vegan and a active boxer ?

  Share

  A

  

  Mike Tyson says:

  A lot of artichokes and morningstar products. Mostly green. Greens are the best products to eat because they give you oxygen.

• Q

  

  SullyOfficial

  Why do you feel the popularity of the sport seems to have shifted away from the heavyweight division and towards lighter, smaller fighters?

  Share

  A

  

  Mike Tyson says:

  Because there's no heavyweight s in the division that are constructive and exciting enough to win the people over. They're very defense oriented. This is fighting. You could win a lot but if you're not exciting you're not going to win a lot of money. The people want to watch exciting heavyweights fight.

• Q

  

  Tommy Banks

  I am a huge boxing fan and want your opinion. Marvelous Marvin Hagler vs Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins...who wins and why? Tommy

  Share

  A

  

  Mike Tyson says:

  That's really interesting to say. I don't know. Bernard Hopkins can make you really look bad, that would be a really interesting fight. That would be such an exciting fight! That's tough. I'd like to go with Hopkins because his whole entry that he is just an ugly guy to fight. He's a magnificent fighter, that would be something I would like to see.

• Q

  

  PennyWise1983

  If you could of shared the ring with any fighter, past or present. Who would it have been? Thanks.

  Share

  A

  

  Mike Tyson says:

  I did all my fights. I fought everyone I wanted to fight already.

• Q

  

  SimonPennXO

  Mike ! any plan on visiting Montreal, Canada soon? For a show or exhibition ? WE LOVE YOU HERE !!!

  Share

  A

  

  Mike Tyson says:

  I believe we are, we just got back from Vancouver. You can check out MikeTysonOnTour.com for dates.

• Q

  

  Matt Vaught

  Mike, have you been approached and if so, would you consider joining HBO's boxing telecast team as an analyst? We would love to hear you!

  Share

  A

  

  Mike Tyson says:

  No ihaven't been. I've been too busy traveling. I don't know if that would interrupt my ability to travel.

• Q

  

  Louis Houde

  I do some training to keep me in shape. I want to know what was basically your training when you started boxing. Can you give me some details?

  Share

  A

  

  Mike Tyson says:

  A lot of road work, shadowing boxing in the mirror. It's all about familiarity. Being around fighters, being in the gym, being the boxing circle. It's all about being consistent.

• Q

  

  Linwood Bam

  What was your answer to every one who said you was to short to become a heavyweight boxer

  Share

  A

  

  Mike Tyson says:

  This is what I found out about fighting. Fighting styles don't matter, it's about the morales behind the fighting styles. I didn't let something like being too short get in my weight. Isn't that the prototype? Big vs small, David and Goliath. Anyone can make a statement to see where that word comes from, "are you too small?"

• Q

  

  JolantaKotula

  Do you have any regrets? If so, what are they?

  Share

  A

  

  Mike Tyson says:

  I have no regrets because I wouldn't be able to embark in this type of lifestyle, being a decent human being in a relationship. Everything I should have regrets about it turned me into a good person. This is the best thing in the world for me, my wife and kids. It's a part of love I've never endured or engaged with before, it's just amazing.

• Q

  

  Vlad Hudyshkin

  Hi Mike ! what was the most difficult fight for you ?

  Share

  A

  

  Mike Tyson says:

  Riddick, Holyfield, Buster Douglass, Lennox Lewis....

• Q

  

  Marco DiMichele

  Mike, is there any chance you will become a trainer yourself one day? No doubt, there are a lot of hungry young fighters who could benefit greatly from your incredible knowledge of the sport.

  Share

  A

  

  Mike Tyson says:

  I don't know, that's a really special job. As you noticed the greatest fighters aren;t necessarily the greatest trainers. I don't know if that's who I am in life. That's a heavy responsibility to take care of other people's children and take care of them. It;'s a very special job.

• Q

  

  Patricia Mitchell

  Mike Tyson..How do you reach out to youth in urban areas to help make their boxing dreams a reality too?

  Share

  A

  

  Mike Tyson says:

  Well I'm not a boxing trainer. I'm not involved in the boxing world when I was a lot younger. My life is invested in my children, working out, doing my charity, stuff like that. We launched MikeTysonCares.org in December and it's for giving kids a fighting chance. You can check out MikeTysonCares.org to see how I'm giving back to urban communities.

• Q

  

  HBO

  That's all the time we have for today, is there anything else you'd like to say to your fans before we sign off?

  Share

  A

  

  Mike Tyson says:

  I'm so happy and grateful for all my fans. Let me know more of what you guys are looking for. Give me comments and input on MikeTyson.com and follow me on Twitter @Twitter.