Memory Lane: The Mike Tyson-Jim Gray Interview

October 27th, 2009

Oh, how times have changed. Mike Tyson’s tearful, sensitive appearances on Oprah earlier this month were a stark contrast to the Baddest Man on the Planet image he portrayed for almost two decades of his boxing career. Never was Iron Mike at his meanest than the interview he gave to Showtime’s Jim Gray following his first-round massacre of Lou Savarese…

The Mike Tyson & Jim Gray Interview in Glasgow, Scotland June 24, 2000

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Gray: Mike, was that your shortest fight ever?

Tyson: I bear witness to only one God and Muhammad blessing and people be upon him is his prophet. I dedicate this fight to my brothers that are gone…who died. I’ll be there to see you… I love with all my heart… all praise be to my children, I love you… um God,…aww man, WHAT??!!

Gray: Is this your shortest fight ever? In any time amateur, professional, ever?

Tyson: I don’t know man. YEAH ,Yeah Lennox Lewis, Lennox, I’m comin’ for you!

Gray: Mike is it frustrating to train like you did and have this end seven to eight seconds -

Tyson: (Interrupting) No, I didn’t train for this fight, I only trained probably two weeks, three weeks for this fight, I had to bury my best friend and I dedicate this fight, I wasn’t gonna fight, I dedicated this fight to him, I was gonna rip his heart out! I’m the best ever, I’m the most brutal and vicious and most ruthless champion there’s ever been! They’re ain’t no one can stop me. Lennox is a conqueror? NO! I’m Alexander, he’s no Alexander, I’m the best evah! There’s never been anyone this ruthless, I’m Sonny Liston, I’m Jack Dempsey, there no one that can match me, I’m from their cloth. There’s no one that can match me. My style is impetuous, my defense is impregnable, and I’m just FEROCIOUS. I want your heart, I want to eat his children. Praise be to Allah!

Gray: You’re saying now Mike… (Gray grabs Mike’s shoulder but Mike is walking away)… Mike?

Lennox Lewis commented the following week about Tyson’s verbal assault, during a media workout in the Poconos as he prepared for his bout with Francois Botha on July 15.

“Hearing the statement that Tyson wants to eat my heart and eat my children kind of confuses me. Because I thought he was a vegetarian. It was simply a preposterous statement. But before he has a chance to eat me, Tyson has to eat my left and right crosses. And he knows what he can have for dessert.”

Tyson and Lewis would fight two years later on June 8, 2002 in Memphis.

Source: “Heavyweight Armageddon: The Tyson-Lewis Championship Battle” By Scoop Malinowski