Skip to main content

Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth Premieres November 16 On HBO

HBO Films has announced that Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth will air on November 16th. Read on.

From the Press Release
Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and legendary filmmaker Spike Lee bring Tyson’s hit one-man stage show to TV in HBO Films’ MIKE TYSON: UNDISPUTED TRUTH. Filmed in New York in July, the exclusive HBO presentation debuts SATURDAY, NOV. 16 (8:00-9:30 p.m. ET/PT). Raw, honest, powerful and full of humor, the stage production of “Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth” features “Iron Mike” recounting his life’s highs and lows in his signature candid style. He opens up about his troubled youth, landmark boxing career, key people in his life, controversies, time in prison, self-examination, family and new beginnings.


Other HBO playdates: Nov. 16 (1:15 a.m.), 17 (7:25 p.m.), 19 (3:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m.), 24 (4:15 p.m., 1:00 a.m.), 27 (2:30 p.m., 8:00 p.m.) and 30 (4:30 p.m.), and Dec. 3 (5:00 p.m., 12:30 a.m.), 6 (8:30 p.m.), 7 (2:30 p.m.), 12 (3:30 p.m., midnight) and 15 (5:30 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates: Nov. 22 (11:45 a.m., 9:30 p.m.) and Dec. 1 (11:45 a.m.), 10 (10:20 a.m., 10:00 p.m.), 18 (12:15 p.m.), 21 (9:15 a.m., midnight), 23 (1:55 a.m.), 26 (7:30 p.m.) and 29 (10:00 p.m.)

“I’m incredibly grateful to HBO for partnering with me and for believing in my story,” says Tyson. “It is an honor and a privilege to be working with them to bring my one-man show, ‘Undisputed Truth,’ to life on the television screen.”

“It was my honor and pleasure to share with Mike Tyson our Broadway debut,” says Lee.

“Mike Tyson’s one-man show is a fascinating journey into his storied life and career, and we are thrilled to have Spike Lee bring it from the stage to the screen for our viewers,” says HBO Programming president Michael Lombardo.

Earlier this year, Tyson wrapped a ten-week U.S. tour of “Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth,” which ran on Broadway the previous summer, both directed by Lee. He will perform the show overseas this winter and spring. Tyson performed a similar show that ran in Las Vegas in spring 2012.

Reviewing the stage production, the Los Angeles Times called Tyson “a riveting stage presence with compelling stories to tell” and New York’s Daily News described his show as “entertaining” and “fascinating,” adding that he “is gifted with iron-clad charisma.”

To be published Nov. 12 by Blue Rider Press/Penguin Group, the book “Undisputed Truth,” by Tyson and Larry Sloman, is a first-person account of the elements that have shaped his life.

For more information, visit facebook.com/HBO and twitter.com/HBO #UndisputedTruth. MIKE TYSON: UNDISPUTED TRUTH is executive produced by Spike Lee, Mike Tyson, Kiki Tyson, Jon Kilik and James Nederlander; directed by Spike Lee; written by Kiki Tyson.

Highlights from MIKE TYSON: UNDISPUTED TRUTH:

Tyson begins the film speaking frankly about his tumultuous early life, recalling heartbreaking moments that are essential to understanding his struggles. Raised by a mother who led a street life and struggled with addiction, he didn’t know his father. Though Tyson was told his father was a neighborhood pimp who visited once a year, another man’s name appeared on Tyson’s birth certificate.

“I really don’t know much about my mother,” he says. “I remember her drinking a lot, always angry and fighting. I knew she had dreams of becoming a school teacher. But then she met my father, or the man I was told was my father – the fast-talking, cool-dressing pimp who I always credited with changing the path of my mother’s life. Before long, she was caught up in the street life, which took a heavy toll on her, because at heart she really wasn’t that girl at all. So she drank to cover up the pain. See, I was born with the addictive gene and it still haunts me to this day, ready to creep up on me in my darkest night, ready to rob me of my brightest day.”

Lacking a stable home life, Tyson remembers being raised by the rough streets of Brooklyn, noting, “I came from the gutter, a place where dreams are broken and memories are best forgotten. Welcome to Brownsville. Our motto is ‘Never Run Never Will.’”

He recalls his neighborhood as “the equivalent of being born in Hell…I can still see myself and my friends roaming the streets at all hours day and night. And I hung out with a tough crew of kids, but my street friends were my family, of course. We all knew that no one was going to give us anything. If we wanted anything we’d have to take it, and that’s what we did – a lot.”

Tyson said about his mother and his future, “She never could imagine her boy would make it out of Brooklyn, unless it was in handcuffs or a wooden box.”

Many of Tyson’s street crew ended up in jail, as he did, arrested 38 times by the time he was 12 years old. His time at juvenile detention center was life-changing. While he longed to be in the boxing program there, the coach doubted his commitment and wouldn’t let him join. After Tyson proved his resolve through dedicated training, however, the coach introduced him to Constantino “Cus” D’Amato, who took the young man under his wing and began to shape a career for him.

Most important, D’Amato gave Tyson the home life he’d never had, functioning as a caregiver and offering the structure of a traditional family.

Tyson recalls, “Cus was beautiful. I loved Cus, because I’m a street kid. I didn’t have a mother or father really that close. But he taught me how to read, write. He was very patient with me, he encouraged me to read anything I could get my hands on.”

In this nurturing environment, Tyson could focus on boxing, but doubted his skills. D’Amato instilled a strong work ethic and dedication in him, providing guidance with his characteristic tough love and advice.

Tyson recalls, “So one day I’m in Cus’ living room and I’m reading a boxing encyclopedia…great fighters like Sam Lackford, Harry Greib, Jack Britton, Ted ‘The Kid’ Lewis, Willie Pep and the great, legendary Sugar Ray Robinson…you add up all the fights, that’s like 1500 fights. I gave up right there. I said, ‘Cus, I could never be like them, I can’t do this.’

“Then he looked at me in the eye and said [doing an impression of D’Amato], ‘Mike, you gotta read the whole records…We never hear any more about the guys that they knocked out...Know why, Mike? Cause at one point someone knocked them out…But these men you’re reading about, these champs, they never quit. They never got discouraged, you know? And that’s why these [other] guys – their demons will follow them forever, Mike. ‘Cause they had a chance to face their demons and they didn’t…You have to face your demons, you hear me, Mike? ‘Cause if you don’t, they’ll follow you into eternity. And you remember, Mike, be careful how you fight your fights – ‘cause the way you fight your fights, will be the way you’ll live your life.’ Then I never quit again.”

Popular posts from this blog

Three Best Places to Eat in Huntsville, Alabama

Huntsville, Alabama has a vibrant culinary scene with a variety of dining options to choose from. Here are some of the best places to eat in Huntsville: Cotton Row : This high-end restaurant offers a sophisticated dining experience that is perfect for a special occasion. The menu features a blend of Southern and French cuisine, with dishes like Gulf shrimp and grits and seared duck breast.  Toybox Bistro : Toybox Bistro is a unique dining experience that will delight both kids and adults. The menu features nostalgic favorites like grilled cheese and tomato soup, as well as more grown-up options like blackened salmon.  Melt: Melt is a gourmet grilled cheese restaurant that offers a fun and casual dining experience. The menu features a variety of creative grilled cheese sandwiches, as well as delicious sides like truffle fries. These are just a few of the many great places to eat in Huntsville, Alabama. There's something for everyone here, whether you're in the mood for fine

Biscuit Belly Brings Comfort Food to Huntsville, Alabama

Power Brands Hospitality Group ("PBHG") in partnership with Biscuit Belly, a Kentucky-based "craft casual" brunch spot that offers warm hospitably and chef-driven gourmet biscuit sandwiches, is happy to announce the first Biscuit Belly restaurant opening in the Rocket City!   If you're looking for a place that serves up delicious southern comfort food with a modern twist, then look no further than Biscuit Belly in Huntsville, Alabama. Biscuit Belly is a new hotspot for breakfast, brunch or lunch with a focus on scratch-made biscuits and the many delicious creations that can be crafted with them. With locations across several states in the US, this newest Biscuit Belly location offers a cozy atmosphere and a comforting menu that's perfect for anytime hunger hits. The menu offers a wide range of dishes, all featuring Biscuit Belly's delicious, buttery biscuits. From classics like the Basic Biscuit, which comes with a buttermilk biscuit, cheddar, over e

Get Inked in Huntsvegas: The Ultimate Tattoo Experience

  The Huntsvegas Tattoo Expo is an annual event that takes place in Huntsville, Alabama. This event is a celebration of all things tattoo, bringing together tattoo artists, enthusiasts, and curious onlookers from all over the country. With its colorful displays and unforgettable artistry, the Huntsvegas Tattoo Expo is one of the most exciting tattoo expos in the Southeast. At the Huntsvegas Tattoo Expo, tattoo artists from around the world come together to showcase their art and compete in various categories, including the best tattoo of the day, the best large black and grey tattoo, and the best small color tattoo. Visitors to the expo can watch the artists at work, get up close and personal with the latest tattooing equipment, and even get tattooed themselves! While the Huntsvegas Tattoo Expo is primarily focused on tattoo art, there is much more to explore at this exciting event. Visitors can browse a wide variety of vendors selling everything from tattooing supplies to unique c