FRANCE: Mike Tyson tells Cannes news conference he feels vulnerable after screening his movie 'Tyson'

Record ID: 731289

  • Title: FRANCE: Mike Tyson tells Cannes news conference he feels vulnerable after screening his movie 'Tyson'
  • Date: 22nd May 2008
  • Summary: CANNES, FRANCE (MAY 17, 2008) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) MIKE TYSON, SAYING: "Wow, OK. I've always analysed my life, I've always been pretty objective about myself, I've always been a harsh critic about myself. Since I was a young kid I was involved with boxing trainer Cuz D'Amato, he taught me analysing my whole scenario, my life and I'm pretty harsh on myself and that's why by analysing this whole situation I've always maintained the thought that I had the opportunity to put my whole life on film"
  • Embargoed: 6th June 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Entertainment,People
  • Reuters ID: LVA4ML1TAO0TH6UUS6RA7TBDIXOD
  • Story Text: Heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson, one of the most fearsome and controversial fighters in the sport's history, said on Saturday it was a miracle he was still alive after the drugs and violence of his past life.
    "I've lived a wild and strange life," Tyson told a news conference at the Cannes film festival to present a documentary on his life by U.S. director James Toback.
    "I've used drugs, I've had physical altercations with dangerous people, people were angry. I've slept with guys' wives, they wanted to kill me. I'm just happy to be here. It's just a miracle. I feel good about being here with you," he said.
    Selecting from hours of footage and mixing fight sequences with interviews and photographs, Toback tells the story of the boxer's climb from his impoverished childhood to the pinnacle of his sport and dramatic fall.
    Like Serbian director Emir Kusturica's documentary on soccer legend Diego Maradona, which is showing out of competition next week, "Tyson" paints the picture of a charismatic but troubled champion whose image transcended his own sport.
    "In the course of the film, Tyson moves from someone you might think you'd want to steer well clear of to a man you might actually want to meet and speak with, which is a significant accomplishment," trade paper Variety said in its review.
    Tyson himself, his face tattooed and looking significantly heavier in a grey suit than in the days of his prime, mounted the red carpet at the film's opening night to loud applause from onlookers and festival-goers.
    "I had no idea this thing was going to ever make it to this grand scale here," he said. "I feel totally overwhelmed."
    The film treats Tyson, who became the youngest heavyweight champion of the world but was also banned for biting an opponent, as a tragic but also noble figure.
    Toback, who has known Tyson for years, has been praised for the confidences he drew from a fighter whose brutality in the ring hid a more sensitive and articulate side.
    "I've always analysed my life," Tyson said. "I've always been pretty objective about myself, I've always been a harsh critic about myself."
    His career was certainly dramatic enough. "Iron Mike" Tyson was the most recognisable figure in boxing during the 1980s and 90s, knocking out a string of opponents and earning and squandering hundreds of millions of dollars in the process.
    Humiliated as a child for his distinctive high lisp, he suffered much bullying until he began to fight back.
    He was rescued from the mean streets of Brooklyn by veteran trainer Cus D'Amato, who helped channel his raw power and aggression and made him one of the most devastating punchers the sport had ever seen.
    At his peak, Tyson exerted total domination over opponents, apparently scaring several into submission before their fights had even started.
    He fascinated the public but was increasingly stigmatised as violent and uncontrollable especially after his conviction and prison sentence for a rape he continues to deny.
    "I've been abusive to women before in my life and I felt I was done a misjustice in dealing with this situation that I got convicted for. I thought it was wrong, I thought it was unfair."
    His fall from grace was cemented when he was banned for biting the ear of Evander Holyfield during a fight but despite the dark side, Toback paints the picture of a complicated man who is both searching and troubled.
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