In just a few months, possibly this December, Mike Tyson is set to step back into the ring, this time against Russian legend Fedor Emelianenko, the former PRIDE heavyweight champion and four-time combat sambo world titleholder. From a turbulent childhood marked by neglect and juvenile delinquency to turning pro at just 18 and defeating Hector Merced in his debut, Mike Tyson’s journey has always defied the odds. And much of that early success can be credited to the late Cus D’Amato.

He took Mike Tyson under his wing at age 12 and became both a mentor and father figure. Under D’Amato’s watchful eye, Tyson honed his skills and belief, eventually becoming the youngest heavyweight world champion at just 20. Although D’Amato passed away from pneumonia after Tyson’s 11th pro fight, his legacy lived on through Tyson’s meteoric rise under Kevin Rooney. Now, 40 years after D’Amato’s death, his name once again echoes through the sport.

A few days ago on The PorterWay Podcast, legendary broadcaster Jim Lampley called in to recap the action-packed Fatal Fury weekend and promote his new book, It Happened. Joining hosts in the studio were Delante “Tiger” Johnson and Coach PJ, as the group broke down Emanuel Navarrete’s controversial technical decision over Charly Suarez, Erickson Lubin’s win against Ardreal Holmes, and much more. They also discussed Manny Pacquiao’s return against Mario Barrios and the anticipated rematch between Sebastian Fundora and Tim Tszyu following their brutal 2024 bloodbath.

In one of the show’s most compelling moments, Lampley was asked to share the most memorable incident from his 30-year career as a blow-by-blow announcer for HBO’s World Championship Boxing. Surprisingly, his story wasn’t just about the fights. It traced back to his earliest days at ABC Sports. Lampley recounted how a new executive, aiming to push him out, assigned him to boxing, assuming the unfamiliarity would make Lampley uncomfortable enough to leave. What the executive didn’t know, however, was that Lampley had fallen in love with the sport as a six-year-old watching Sugar Ray Robinson fight Bobo Olson with his mother.

That spiteful assignment would prove fateful. ABC had just signed a contract to broadcast the fights of a young 19-year-old heavyweight from upstate New York. That fighter was none other than Mike Tyson. Lampley’s first-ever boxing broadcast was Tyson vs. Jesse Ferguson in Glens Falls, New York in 1986. In a savage display, Tyson broke Ferguson’s nose with a vicious uppercut in the fifth round, leaving blood splattered across the ring. “And that’s the famous ‘I wanted to drive his nosebone into his fight brain’ when Mike absolutely obliterated Jesse’s nose in the middle of the ring in the fifth round with an uppercut and there was blood all over the ring,” Lampley recalled with a laugh on The PorterWay Podcast.

His commentary partner Alex Wallau then entered the ring post-fight and asked Tyson to break down the knockout. That’s when Mike Tyson responded, “Captain taught me that the purpose of the uppercut to drive the opponent’s nose bone into his brain. I wanted to drive his nose bone into his brain.” Lampley, standing at ringside, was struck not just by Mike Tyson’s brutality, but his charisma. “Oh my god, this kid is not only going to be the greatest quote machine in boxing, he’s going to be the greatest quote machine in sports.” And within weeks, the unforgettable one-liners began pouring in.

In closing, Lampley reflected on where Mike Tyson’s gift for words came from. “All the quotes that to be fair, Cus D’amato had taught him. But he knew how to recycle them. He knew how to make them come off the page. He did in fact become the number one quote machine in sports.” However, quotes weren’t the only thing Mike Tyson mastered.

Mike Tyson’s wisdom goes far beyond boxing

Mike Tyson has lived one of the most dramatic and compelling lives in sports history. He’s done it all! Boxing glory, time in prison, movie roles, public scandal, financial ruin, and an impressive business comeback. Over time, The Baddest Man on the Planet has reinvented himself from a fearsome fighter to a surprisingly introspective and thoughtful figure. Though known worldwide for his brutal knockouts and controversial moments, fewer people recognize the depth of his self-awareness and wisdom. Despite academic struggles and a speech impediment in his youth, Mike Tyson has emerged as a surprisingly articulate speaker with a powerful, often philosophical outlook on life.

“Life is beautiful but you have to accept the good and the bad as being beautiful…Just enjoy what we have while we journey through it,” he once said. Mike Tyson’s words carry weight, especially considering the hardships he has endured. He lost his mother at 16, three years before his professional debut. In 1990, he lost his sister, and later, his young daughter – losses that could have broken any man. If anyone has truly known the “bad” side of life, it’s Mike Tyson. Yet, through it all, he found a way to keep going, transforming pain into strength.

Beyond the ring, Mike Tyson’s early love for pigeons and wild animals hinted at a complex personality, one that longed for peace amid chaos. It was during a stint in juvenile detention that his potential was first recognized by a counselor, ultimately leading him to the legendary Cus D’Amato. Under D’Amato’s guidance, Mike Tyson learned to channel his rage and trauma into the discipline of boxing. His path was shaped by rare mentors who believed in him, and through boxing, he discovered a purpose that would redefine his life. So, what do you make of Mike Tyson’s extraordinary journey?