saying that the best punch Tyson
ever threw was at his now ex-wife.
- So much for watching Carson tonight.
- This is bullshit, Don. That's bullshit.
They're making up things about me.
You know [muttering]... - Listen to me, hey, hey, hey.
Champ, champ, hey. - Get off me, Don.
- Breathe, breathe, breathe.
Just breathe, right? What did they tell you,
in through your nose, out through your mouth?
Just breathe.
Yeah, just like you in the ring now, just breathe.
Now, you need to relax, now remember, now you home.
You at your house, you at your castle, you free here.
You okay, you'll be alright.
They can't beat you, alright?
- [exhales] Yeah.
- I'ma take care of you, right champ?
- Yeah. - Alright?
- Yeah. - Alright.
What do you see, who you see?
- It's Don. - You see Don, right?
- Yes, Don.
[crowd cheering]
TYSON: Don King.
[crowd murmurs] Listen, listen, listen.
I was on top of the world.
Rich, heavyweight champion.
Did whatever the fuck I wanted.
Until I sat there for that Barbara Walters interview.
I didn't have any control.
It didn't matter how many times I won or
how big my muscles were.
Robin beat me,
and she did it in front of a national audience.
After all that happened,
there were only two things that got me through it,
Don King,
and this video game. - Oh ho ho!
- Nowadays, you see niggas' faces all
over video games, but back then?
It was major for a Black man to be the face of one.
You guys want to talk about power?
Back then, I had the power.
AUDIENCE: Yeah!
[upbeat rock/pop music]
DEALER: Mr. Tyson, it's so good to see you again.
How can we help you today?
- I always wonder, how you guys get all the cars out of here?
- That big window right there, it's like a door.
You open it, drive the cars right in.
- That's pretty sweet.
We'll take all of them.
- Oh--
We?
- Ay, this shit come in turquoise?
Yo, that's my mama's favorite color.
- You guys got a turquoise one?
- I will look into that right away.
- After I knocked out Spinks in the first round...
I figured I owed you guys a bit of a show with the Bruno fight.
SINGER: ♪ Bad man ♪
[bell dings]
♪ I got what ya wanted ♪
♪ Callin' Miss Thing ♪
♪ And learn things about me ♪
♪ I'm a bad man ♪
♪ ♪
- I baptize you in the name of the Father,
the Son,
and the Holy Ghost.
- Tyson!
Oh, Tyson!
- I'm sorry, Mr. Tyson we never
put a hot tub in a limousine before,
I'm not even sure we could--
SINGER: ♪ I'm a bad man ♪
- Give me a few days.
- We'll be back tomorrow.
- Okay.
SINGER: ♪ Calling Miss Thing ♪
- Any of you ladies ever take a champagne bath before?
SINGER: ♪ I'm a bad man ♪
♪ I was born in the bottom ♪
♪ I'm talkin' no man's land ♪
♪ Where she don't come ♪
♪ Less you got a decent tan ♪
♪ Whoa is me ♪
♪ That's all I would hear ♪
♪ Bad man ♪
- [moaning] SINGER: ♪ I'm a bad man ♪
♪ I'm a bad man ♪
[crowd noise]
- [spits]
TYSON: I did some crazy shit back then.
Hell, I even reburied my mother.
- Take all the time you need, son.
- Uh, Mr. Tyson, I was wondering if I could--
- Yeah, sure.
- [chuckles] Thanks.
- What'd you used to call me?
A low life thief?
Piece of shit?
Wasn't I supposed to spend all my days in jail?
You remember that, Mommy?
Now look.
You'll spend all your days in a box that I put you in,
that I paid for.
No one's just one thing.
We're all a buncha things.
Now sometimes that thing we are,
at any particular point in time, isn't that great.
But it's not all we are.
We can be more if we want to be.
[melancholy piano music plays]
♪ ♪
Unless you're Don King.
Then you're just a slimy, cocksucking motherfucker.
[laughter]
But he was my slimy, cocksucking motherfucker.
The gun?
He carried that because he thought
bodyguards made him look like a thug.
Before him, promoters looked and sounded a certain way.
Don came and flipped the script.
DON: Y'all brothers stayin' out of trouble?
- Oh yeah. - Yeah brother.
DON: Alright now, be easy now.
TYSON: Don spoke like a preacher
and thought like a grandmaster.
[Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop by Lionel Hampton plays]
People knew who he was.
He knew he was meant for greatness.
He used tell me about how he was one of
the biggest number runners in Cleveland,
making thousands of dollars a day.
- Sam!
- Don saw himself as a businessman,
a respected businessman.
But if you made the mistake of disrespecting him?
SINGER: ♪ Said if you can't say Re Bop ♪
♪ Keep your big mouth shut ♪
♪ Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop ♪
DON: Where's my money, Sam? - I promise, Don!
I'm gonna pay you, you just gotta give me
a little bit more time!
- You want time, get a watch.
[buzzer]
[metallic clanking]
TYSON: Sam Garrett was his name.
He died that night.
And Don's ass went straight to prison.
But he didn't serve time. More like time served Don.
[relaxed music plays]
Don was always trying to sharpen his mind.
He read all kinds of books.
Frederick Douglass, Shakespeare, Voltaire,
Martin Luther King, Marx, and Hitler.
When he was coming up for parole,
he pulled some slick deal, used his connections
to acquire 40 acres of land, which eventually became...
- My 30-room mansion, complete with swimming pool,
gym, cattle, and of course...
♪ ♪
[chuckling]
TYSON: Cus wanted me to be the best
and I was desperate to make him proud.
But Don?
He didn't give a shit about excellence.
All he cared about was money.
So that's all I cared about.
I didn't know how the world works.
Not really.
And Cus taught me how to box.
But he couldn't teach me how to be a Black man in America.
But Don could.
TV ANNOUNCER: Saying that the best punch Tyson
ever threw was at his now ex-wife.
TYSON: Aw, shit. You already saw
my drunk ass do this shit.
- Who do you see? - It's Don.
- You see Don, right? - Yes, Don.
- [chuckling] Alright, now.
Go upstairs and get you some rest.
- Yeah.
TYSON: Tomorrow, I want you to take me to Playboy
so I can beat the shit out those motherfuckers.
- It's Playboy, champ.
A white boy's wet dream disguised as journalism.
You're the heavyweight champion of the world,
young, rich, and Black.
The most feared three words to white America.
You know why? Because you're free.
You're in the same freedom they enjoy and take for granted.
And every time they see a wealthy,
free Black man, it reminds them of the truth.
Of what they did.
What they continue to do with us every single day.
Ha ha, naw...
white folks'll never pay for the truth,
because then they'd have to reckon with what they did.
But they will pay for a show.
Top dollar.
So they'll pay to see Jordan drop a triple double
or Michael moonwalk, or you dominate in the ring.
Because as long as they're watching that,
as long as they see a few of you with
money and freedom,
they won't have to think about the ones that don't.
And it makes them feel good when they go to sleep at night.
[chuckling]
But the minute you get too big, they gotta cut you down.
They gotta make you out to be some kind of monster,
because they can't afford to see you as I see you.
A king.
Don't be their monster.
Be our king.
[bluesy music]
♪ ♪
- With Cus gone, Don was the only father figure I had.
SINGER: ♪ You say so good ♪
♪ With a smile like yours ♪
TYSON: He had set up the Buster Douglas fight.
He hyped it all up.
Team Tyson was going to Tokyo.
It was a huge deal.
♪ ♪
See that fat fuck over there?
Easiest money we ever made.
Don and I were raking it in.
Toyota commercials.
Tyson power!
- [laughing]
TYSON: There was even talk of me having a match
with Hulk Hogan.
I thought it was a big win for me and Don.
♪ ♪
Everybody wanted a piece.
Well, everyone except--
- No, no no, put the recliner over there.
TYSON: My sister Denise.
I loved spending time with her.
- You know what, mm-mm.
I think we got the wrong one, mm-hmm.
Take it back.
TYSON: Except when she was bein' a bitch.
[laughing] I'm just--I'm just--
[both laughing]
Why you still got your sunglasses on? We inside.
- T-they're so expensive, I just don't wanna lose them,
you know?
- Take 'em off.
You know you can duck every now and then, right?
What the hell are those trainers even for?
- Nisey.
- Ah, I know you didn't put your sweaty ass body
all over my new clothes.
- Nisey...
[both laughing]
- Oh, I loved my sister.
But once I became champion,
I didn't have the chance to see her as much.
So I came back home and took her out
to show her what kind of life I was living now.
- Nigga, you late?
All the money you got and you can't afford a watch.
- Nisey, get in.
DENISE: Who you yelling at like that?
I ain't like those boys you play with in the playground.
I'll cut you!
TYSON: Denise was always checking me in public.
Trying to make me look like a little bitch.
[hip-hop music plays]
♪ ♪
[pop] [crowd whooping]
♪ ♪
- Mike, Mike!
I'm ready to go.
What? I like pouring drinks on bitches too.
Mike, I do not like it here. Take me home.
Now.
- What does that flashy house nigga even do for you?
- Who, Don?
He's my promoter.
- A promoter that controls all your shit.
- What are you talking about?
- I call your phone,
that nigga picks up.
I get a birthday card, from you,
that nigga signed 'em.
- How do you even--
- Because your handwriting is sloppy as shit, Mike!
You keep talkin' about how much money you got,
but from where I was sitting.
Lookin' up at that shuckin' and jivin' ass nigga in VIP?
He's the one with all the power, not you.
- You don't know shit.
- Oh yeah? - Yeah.
- You even know how much money you got?
When's the last time you signed a check?
You so rich, you got all these
fancy-ass cars--
when's the last time you signed
your name on a motherfucking check, Mike?
- That's his job, Nisey.
I pay him to manage my money.
- Oh, so I bet he tucks you in at night too, huh?
- Whatever, you don't get it.
- All this shit...
the money,
the ugly-ass girls
you probably fuck in this small-ass car--
none of it's real. - Leave it alone, Nisey.
- You want to be naive and let these niggas
take advantage of you?
Be my guest.
I'm just tellin' you, this shit ain't real.
- Real?
You want to know what's real?
I make more money in a fuckin' day than you make in a year.
That's what's real.
My real life probably feels like a fuckin' dream to you.
- They build niggas like you up.
Suck you dry, then tear you down.
That's how it works.
Everybody knows it.
'Cept you.
[engine turns, revs]
TYSON: All she ever wanted was to protect me.
She didn't care how it sounded or
how it made me feel afterwards.
She just loved me.
Yeah.
I just wish I coulda stayed longer.
But I had work to do.
[exciting music plays]
The Buster Douglas fight had arrived.
I guess with all the shit going on,
it wasn't my top priority.
Besides, I couldn't lose.
Literally, I hadn't lost one single fight
since I turned pro, not one.
[overlapping yelling, camera lenses snapping]
♪ ♪
- Champ, how are you, son?
- I'm good.
DON: How's your room?
I told them to give you the one with the best view.
- It's not as nice as this, but it's okay.
DON: [chuckling] My man, my man.
What can I do you for?
- I want to talk about my money.
- This ain't about the yacht again.
- No, no, it--it's just...
- Joseph, give us a minute.
[door closes]
What is it, Champ?
- How much money do I have?
- Ha ha. Whatchu mean? A lot.
- I mean, how much money do I have,
like the number. I wanna know the number.
- Pshh. You're rich, Mike.
Goddamn wealthy.
You one of the richest motherfuckers in the world.
- I wanna see it.
- We can't just walk into the bank and ask them to
lay hundreds of millions of dollars on the table.
- Why the hell not? Got something to hide?
- [laughing] Hide what, Champ?
- This funny to you?
Think this is a fucking game, Don?
- No, I don't.
But look around, Champ. I'm the only one left.
They all took what they wanted and got the fuck out of dodge.
Now I'm here because I care about you.
It's my job to make sure that everybody sees your face.
You're the greatest boxer in the world.
I'ma put your face on lunch boxes,
soda cans,
and video games.
Mike Tyson Punch Out
for the Nintendo Entertainment System in stores now.
- [laughing]
- Now,
what you should be focusing on is that Douglas fight.
- Guy's a tomato can, he's easy.
Mitch Green's better than him.
I whooped his ass twice.
DON: Okay, Champ, okay.
But maybe we could train a little bit, right?
Get a little cardio in.
[upbeat music]
SINGER: ♪ Ah baby ♪
♪ Ooh ooh ♪
- To be honest, I wasn't focused on the fight.
I wasn't training, and I was out of shape.
SINGER: ♪ Oh oh baby ♪
♪ Ooh ooh ♪
♪ ♪
♪ I'm so ♪
♪ Wrapped up in your love ♪
♪ Every time we touch ♪
- That's probably why--
[bell rings]
[crowd cheering]
[bell dings]
[crowd cheering]
[muffled voices echoing]
[crowd cheering, chanting]
[bell dings]
[bluesy music]
SINGERS: ♪ Tell me ♪
♪ Tell me ♪
SINGER: ♪ Tell me ♪
♪ If you love me ♪
- ♪ Tell me ♪ REFEREE: Four...
SINGER: ♪ Please don't ♪
REFEREE: Five... - ♪ Keep me guessing ♪
REFEREE: Four...
SINGER: ♪ Darling, it's not fair ♪
♪ Oh oh oh oh oh ♪
[bell rings] ♪ Tell me ♪
- Son, look at me.
Alright?
It's okay, I got you.
Alright?
We'll get you a rematch,
and we gon' get your belt back.
Alright? I promise. Trust me.
SINGER ♪ Keep telling me ♪
♪ Ooh ooh ♪
TYSON: When you're young and you don't have
a relationship with your father...
whether you realize it or not,
you go around searching for someone else
to fill that space.
You'll do whatever they say,
just because you want to make them proud.
And you trust them because,
you're supposed to trust your dad, right?
But what you don't realize is,
they're not your dad.
They're just some guy trying to make a buck.
Trustin' Don King was one of
the biggest mistakes of my life.
Not preparing for that Buster Douglas fight
was the other.
That belt meant everything to me.
Without it, who was I?
NEPHEW: Uncle Mike,
you sure it's a good idea to buy me a Nintendo?
My mom did say I was on punishment.
- Hey, what's my name?
- Uh, Uncle Mike.
- Oh, yeah, but what's my name?
- Oh, Mike Tyson.
- And what is it that I do?
- Knock niggas the fuck out.
- Precisely, but what'd I tell you about that?
But yes, if I wanna buy my nephew
a Nintendo, that's what I'm gonna do.
Think I'm scared of your mother?
- Yeah.
[door bell rings] [Mike laughs]
[kids making gun sounds]
KID: I got you. KID: Ha ha ha ha.
- Hey, uncle Mike, you think you can buy me
your boxing game?
I want to play as you.
- Yeah, I'm the boss.
You can't play as me. You gotta try to beat me.
- Oh, I can beat you.
- Oh yeah?
Yeah? [chuckles]
KID: You're--you're Mike Tyson.
- Shh.
[whispering] Don't tell nobody.
Got a Nintendo?
Want one? - Yes!
- I'll see what I can do, come on.
- Oh, you're--you're Mike Tyson!
- Yeah.
- Yo, can I get a autograph, man?
- That depends.
How many these Nintendos do you guys got here?
- Oh--
TYSON: I'll take all of them. And, uh, throw a copy
of Mike Tyson's Punch Out in there too.
- Oh...
you don't know?
- Don't know what?
They took me off the cover,
replaced me with some white guy named Mr. Dream.
But the truth is, the name Mike Tyson didn't mean shit
till I started beating people.
I whoop somebody's ass, they pay me for it.
I fuck my life up and turn it to a Broadway show,
you guys pay me for it.
[laughter]
Every car, every house,
video game with my face on it.
I thought it meant I had power.
That I mattered, that a Black man mattered.
But then I lost my belt.
Mr. fuckin' Dream took everything away.
11 days later, I lost my sister.
- Aw! - Yeah.
Never got to see Nisey again.
Tell her I love her.
If I wasn't the champ, who the fuck was I?
I thought I hit rock bottom.
But little did I know,
shit was about to get worse.
[bluesy music begins]
♪ ♪
SINGER: ♪ They say the world is a melting pot ♪
♪ Some bubbles under and some rise to the top ♪
♪ Shame the devil ♪
♪ And tell the truth ♪
♪ We ain't equal ♪
♪ I'm living proof ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪
♪ It's a cold, cold world ♪
♪ It's a cold world ♪
♪ And ah, ah, ah ♪
♪ It's a cold, cold world ♪
♪ It's a cold world ♪
♪ I...♪