MANNY PACQUIAO
MIKE TYSON
Los Angeles – When we talked to Mike Tyson for his TV special, “Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth” at our office in West Hollywood recently, we were surprised that the former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world had only an entourage of three people unlike the Philippines’ boxing champion, Manny Pacquiao, who is known to have an entourage of 10 or more every time he travels.
“I have met Manny on quite a few occasions,” the 47-year-old retired champ said. “He’s a wonderful man.”
So why does he think boxers like to be on camera, we asked Mike. He laughed and admitted, “Like Manny, I love it too. I love entertaining. I was born to entertain people and be on camera and stuff. Even at my worst, my lowest moment in life, is just a reality show. So this is what I was born to do. I don’t know. My father was a showman. My father was in Church and always singing in Church and doing this little pimping stuff and all that stuff. And that is a form of showmanship. The control and all the attention is on you. So I guess, that is where it comes from. Manny looked spectacular on his last fight too. He looked really great, awesome.”
The HBO special, “Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth,” is based on the one-man stage show that features “Iron Mike” recounting his life’s highs and lows. Directed by Spike Lee, the dialogue according to Mike, was written by his wife, Lakiha Spicer whom he has been married to since 2009.
The idea of the show came up, he disclosed when “I saw Chazz Palminteri. He did ‘A Bronx Tale’ on stage in Las Vegas, Nevada. I watched it and I was explaining to my wife, ‘I believe I can do this.’ Because when I do my meet and greet thing in Europe or Asia, I am on stage telling people about my life. The only difference is that I am taking questions from the crowds. But I decided if I was going to do the one-man show, I would do it without taking questions from the crowd.”
Asked how he eases the pain inside him, Mike disclosed, “I have a different scheduled life now. I am busy with my book, my wife, my children and it is just dealing with life. I am 100 days sober now. This is the best in me. I am really doing well. I am just grateful. That is what I am trying to convey to everybody, is gratitude. I have a great deal of gratitude now than I have ever had in my life.”
Being sober for 100 days is just one of the things Mike is proud of. “I am also most proud of not getting high or using drugs again,” he confessed.
Asked about his fears, Mike frankly replied, “I don’t want to fail on being a good father, being a good husband. I do not want to destroy my marriage or my relationship with my kids. I have already done that in my other marriage, my other relationships and I am pretty much on a good path of developing respect with my children. I can say we are friends now. Because when I was a heavyweight champion, I caused a lot of wreckage and I made many amends. I am just happy we have a relationship and when we talk to each other, we have an opportunity to talk and be friends.”
Before Lakiha, Mike was married to actress Robin Givens for a year then divorced. Then he got married to Monica Turner for six years. He has eight children from different women.
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