Boxing Day

          Mike Tyson’s life can best be summed up as an enigma wrapped in a conundrum aboard a crazy train. And it only costs $75 to see him talk about it from the cheap seats.

            Tyson looks to show the world “The Undisputed Truth.” A 90 minute one man show starring Kid Dynamite is coming to Broadway on July 31. The play itself consists of Tyson talking about his life, and rollercoaster moments.

The Baddest Man on the Planet talked about his upcoming play on Pardon the Interruption. During the interview, Tyson’s quips were spontaneous. His answers were candid. And his audience ate it up like someone’s first meal after fasting.

Tony Kornheiser and Mike Wilbon watched with glee as Tyson told a hilarious tale of his ex-wife, Brad Pitt, and a wet noodle. That story is one of several anecdotes that make up the 1,000,000 piece jigsaw puzzle that is Mike Tyson.

Tyson’s life can be summed up by one memorable, yet bizarre quote. In a post fight interview in 2000, Tyson said “My style is impetuous, my defense is impregnable, and I’m just ferocious, I want his heart, I want to eat his children, praise be to Allah!” Tyson was both dominant and uncontrolled in the ring. His legend and infamy are why his life story will be a hit.

The curtain would rise and the play would start with Tyson’s childhood. His early years were tales straight out of poverty documentaries. Tyson was arrested 38 times by the time he was 13. Iron Mike’s mother died when he was 16 and his father was never in the picture. He met Muhammad Ali in juvenile detention in 1976.

The second act could start with Iron Mike’s professional debut at 18. He enjoyed dominance in the ring and dreaded controversy outside of it. While Tyson won 26 of his first 28 fights by knockout, he later became a convicted rapist at 26.

After being sentenced in 1992, the Baddest Man on the Planet began to lose; in and out of the ring. Evander Hollyfield beat him twice in 1996 and 1997. In 1999, Tyson went back to prison for assaulting two motorists. In 2003, Tyson filed for bankruptcy and retired in 2005.

            The curtain would fall on his boxing career and fast forward to 2009. Director Todd Phillips resurrected Tyson and made him a movie star at 43. Knocking out Zack Galifanakis would be the start of act four, the rebirth. The new de-clawed Tyson has been saved by Hollywood; and will now take to Broadway to relive his cryptic past.

            Tyson is a walking paradox. He is a man who is as hated as he is adored. The former boxer lost everything only to realize that his story is his salvation. For the aforementioned reason, Spike Lee is taking this prize play to the big stage.

           Now Iron Mike has a chance to be the king of a different ring. Tyson can now break a leg, as opposed to someone’s ear.