Mike Tyson Is Returning to the Boxing Ring After 15 Years

Mike Tyson

-Hey, what’s up, Jim? What’s going on, buddy? -It’s so good to see you. Man, it has been a while since the first time I told you the first I saw you was at my high school in Saugerties. -Yeah, that’s pretty awesome, Saugerties.

-Yeah, it was like a Golden Glove or something like that. -I don’t know. Probably was just a local amateur fight or something. -Yeah, and I remember our local shoe store, Montano’s, sold you a pair of boxing shoes or something like that, and I was like — I love that you got — like, that was a big legend around my hometown growing up was that, “Mike Tyson got his boxing shoes from Montano’s!” It was the coolest thing ever.

And now, here you are, Mike Tyson is back. Iron Mike. September 12th. -Oh, man, I’m so happy. Yeah, man. It’s gonna be so awesome. I’m so happy to be coming back into the ring and facing Roy Jones on September 12th.

It’s gonna be so awesome. And by doing that, I’m also — Jimmy, I’m gonna be launching — Being the prototype of it, I’m launching my Legends Only League. And this is gonna be so awesome.

Other leagues from all over — whoever, I don’t care. Basketball, pool shark, all the ex-legends who want to play and still able to play and still beautiful, like myself, they can come with us, they can call me.

We can have anybody. Like, before, I was saying, we have Dennis Rodman go against Metta World Peace, one on one, have Wayne Gretzky go against an up-and-coming young guy, one on one, have their team together.

Everybody. -That’s a great idea. But this is, like — How’d it come about, first fight in 15 years? How did it happen? Why? -Well, I don’t know. I wanted to do something good. I’m embarked on a real charitable event, and oh, man, we’re gonna help so many various charities.

And I thought it was a great thing to do. And, of course, I can still do it, of course. So, this is what I want to do. I’m really looking forward to it. -And did you pick Roy Jones Jr. out of a lineup? ‘Cause you could fight anyone.

-Hey, I don’t know. It’s a whole bunch of guys. It started out with Bob Sapp, and I got from Bob Sapp to Roy Jones. I don’t know how this happened, but I think he’s brilliant, ’cause he’s the greatest fighter of his generation.

I’m the greatest fighter of my generation, and it’s just a no-brainer that we should clash together. -Yeah. You guys never fought before, right? -No, we planned on fighting, but it didn’t happen, but this is the opportunity now.

-I saw the training footage of you on Instagram, and, oh, my gosh! You’ve got it, man. It’s unbelievable. -I’m back, man, I’m back. I don’t know how come it came back. I started training.

I’m back in shape. I’m 228. And I’ve been boxing. Doing what I can. I can’t believe this either, man. It’s just — I don’t believe in the Fountain of Youth, but something just came over me, and I’m back, man.

-How does it feel training from 54 compared to when you were 24? -Well, it’s really painful. -[ Laughing ] -Really painful. And from this experience right now, I’ll never call another fighter a bum again, because anybody that does this or attempts to do this is no bum.

-Yeah, it’s tough. It’s rough. How do your kids feel about you coming back? -Well, my kids think I should sit my old ass down, but what do they know? Of course. You know? I’m very confident.

They don’t know how to fight. Neither one of my kids can beat me in a fight, so what are they talking about? -Yeah, exactly. What are they talking about? Yeah. Come on. -Wait till they see what dad does.

-Absolutely. -I have a prediction. -I think — well, I know you’re gonna win because I know you. You’re Mike Tyson. I think — How long is a round? Three minutes? -Three minutes. Three minutes.

-I think, here’s what happens. I think, in your head, you’re gonna want to go five rounds. But I think once you get in there and that thing and you get tagged once, the hurricane’s gonna come out, the Iron Mike is gonna come out, and you’re gonna lose it.

I’m gonna say…fourth round. And that’s being nice. -Well, why don’t we just do a lottery and find out. -Yeah. Oh, definitely. I’ll fly to you. -Absolutely. This is gonna be so awesome.

This is gonna be so awesome. -“Iron Mike” — did that come from Cus D’Amato? Where’d you get the nickname “Iron Mike”? -Somebody just started calling me “Iron Mike,” a gentleman that hung out with a friend of mine, Carlos Santos.

And he had said, “Man, I’ll buy you a T-shirt that says ‘Iron Mike.’ I didn’t even know what that stands for, and now everybody calls me “Iron Mike.” -Wow. See, I didn’t know that.

And then I just saw some pictures of Jamie Foxx, who is unbelievable. I love that guy. He’s so talented. He’s playing you in a movie called “Finding Mike.” It’s finally happened.

We talked about it last time you were on the show. And so now it’s finally happening. -Hey, man, I’m looking forward to this. This is gonna be really interesting, observing myself. -Yeah. But Jamie said to me when he was here last time, we’re talking in the hallway, and he said, “I got tons of Mike stories.

Like, we hung out. I’ve been through everything.” Like, he was with you through the good times and the bad times. -Jamie might also be participating in the Legends Only League, as well, because I’m sure there’s some comedians that want to kick his ass.

-[ Laughing ] -So we can get Jamie to participate in this stuff, as well. Listen, it’s for all athletes. I’m talking about anybody — ping pong players, all legendary handball players, all the legends of the past, you know, who’s around 45, 50 years old.

Come with me. Tell your agents to call me. Get in shape. I’m talking about anybody. I don’t care who you are. Everybody. We can always have something for you. Legends don’t have to stand out.

Of course, if they’re still beautiful, like myself, and still able to do what they do, so why do they have to not do what they do? You can still have a great football team, basketball team, one-on-one tennis, one-on-one ping pong, whatever, handball, whatever.

Basketball, football. Whatever it is, we got it. -Yeah, just because you got older, doesn’t mean you’re not still an athlete. -Exactly! How many people you know can still outrun Jerry Rice, really? -No.

No one. -Exactly. -No one I know. -Exactly. And I bet you — And I bet you he has more fan bases and more YouTube followers than the guy that plays his position in the team he used to play for. -Yeah.

Yeah, I think it’s a great idea. -Exactly. He doesn’t have to die. Why does he have to die because they say he can’t play no more? -[ Laughing ] Exactly. I’m so excited about this. September 12th.

And if anyone needs any more reason be to excited for the fight, take a look at this. -Why do I want to be the baddest man on the planet? Sometimes I wish I could stop having these desires to go forward, to think that I’m somebody, ’cause it’s a lot of work.

-You got to be willing to get up every morning, 5:00, hit that rope, every day. Certain time, hit that gym. Because that other man over there is willing to do anything that he got to do necessary to win.

-Human beings are not meant to be humble. -Nobody ever went from junior middleweight and became heavyweight champ. I took off and did it. -We’re not born to be humble. We born to be humbled. -It’s like David and Goliath.

He’s this monster we know. If he hits you, he can take your head off, and I’m little old David who only has God on my side. -Tell me who you want me to kill. -That’s what I’m talkin’ about.