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American Morning

Mike Tyson's Out of Ring Episodes May Factor in Licensing Decision

Aired January 29, 2002 - 08:54   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Boxer Mike Tyson was supposed to appear on CNN's "Larry King Live" last night. I stayed up, past my bedtime, to watch him, he canceled. Maybe he is worried about his image. Today, the Nevada State Athletic Commission takes up the issue of Tyson's boxing license for an April 6 bout with Lennox Lewis. Tyson's tirades out of the ring may weigh in their decision.

Frank Buckley offers a portrait of the boxer.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): There's no denying the devastating talent of Mike Tyson the boxer, but Tyson the human being, at times gentle or charitable -- or even self-effacing.

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: I had a dream about you two weeks ago.

BUCKLEY: Here, as himself in the film "Black and White."

TYSON: I'm on parole, brother, please.

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Am I annoying you?

BUCKLEY: As a human being, Tyson has been unpredictable, angry, embarrassing. He has become, in the view of some, a caricature of a boxing cliche, the boxer who could have been a contender.

BILL GALLO, NEW YORK DAILY NEWS: I remember that line in "On the Waterfront" when Marlon Brando says to his brother, "I could have been somebody." Well, you can say that about Mike Tyson. He could have been somebody. I'm not talking about a fighter only, as a grand human being.

BUCKLEY: Bill Gallo knows about caricatures, he sketches them for the New York Daily News. The cartoonist and columnist has followed Tyson's career since the man was a boy of 17.

GALLO: I have to say, I was one of the guys that he trusted, one of the newspaper guys that he trusted. At least that's what he told me.

BUCKLEY: Gallo and others watched as Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion in history at the age of 20. We all watched in 1988 as his then wife, actress Robin Givens told ABC's Barbara Walters that her husband was at times frightening.

ROBIN GIVENS, ACTRESS: He's got a side to him that's scary. There's a time when he cannot control his temper and that's frightening.

BUCKLEY: Her words now seemingly prophetic in light of what followed, convictions for assault and rape outside of the ring...

(on camera): ...and outrage over his behavior in the ring. Tyson biting the ears of Evander Holyfield during a 1997 title match. Tyson has also, at time, engaged in sparring matches with unwilling non-boxers, people like parking lot attendants, and members of the press.

TYSON: Don't (AUDIO GAP) with me.

STEVE FARHOOD, CNNSI BOXING ANALYST: Mike Tyson years ago became America's freak show. He is like an ongoing soap opera.

BUCKLEY (voice-over): The question now, will this most recent show be his final act? Bill Gallo believes boxing should count him out, but he says as long as Tyson is a financial draw, promoters will urge him to fight, and Gallo believes he should really be getting some help.

GALLO: I don't know who would want to be him, if they had to be in his head. He must suffer like hell.

TYSON: You're scared, coward!

BUCKLEY: Frank Buckley, CNN, Los Angeles.

TYSON: You can't last two minutes in my world!

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