TYSON: DEBT, DOPE & DESPAIR
Dec 3, 2004
www.newyorkpost.com


December 3, 2004 -- MIKE Tyson — his career in shambles after a fourth-round knockout by British journeyman Danny Williams — is said to be depressed, abusing cocaine and running up debts with shady associates while living in Phoenix, Ariz. with his girlfriend, Shelly, the mother of his two-year-old son.
The troubled former heavyweight champ — who has squandered an estimated $400 million over the course of his career — was $38 million in debt and owed money to at least 246 creditors before his loss to Williams last July.

The shocking KO snuffed out the 38-year-old Tyson's hopes of regaining the heavyweight crown, nixing a seven-fight deal that could have pulled him out of bankruptcy. Since then, he is said to have been sponging off less-than-savory figures to sustain his lavish lifestyle.

"Basically, he's become the modern-day Sonny Liston," a Tyson pal told PAGE SIX. "He's living off other's people's dimes. He's saying to these shady wannabe promoters, 'OK, I'll fight for you. But you have to pay for my hotel rooms, take my friends out on shopping sprees.' He's playing with the wrong people. Eventually, it's gonna come back to him."

The source added that Tyson, who has frequently talked about his prolific marijuana use, has moved onto harder drugs: "Mike's been abusing cocaine. He's been acting very erratically. He needs help." Tyson's manager, Shelly Finkel, did not return calls.

The comparison to Liston is ominous. Liston, another fearsome former heavyweight champ who had plenty of run-ins with the law, was found dead in 1971.

Officially, he died of heart failure and lung congestion, but needle marks in his arm suggest he may have died of a heroin overdose. Others believe mobsters murdered him, or that he was involved in a loan-sharking ring and was demanding a bigger stake.

Liston became heavyweight champ in 1962, but was upset in 1964 by brash young Cassius Clay. The two had a re-match in 1965 in which Clay — who had since changed his name to Muhammad Ali — floored Liston with his infamous "phantom punch."

If thats true then its very sad

You know it was in a tabloid, you can't believe everything you read. Boxing talk.net is going to do an interview with him on December 16th.

If this is true, this is a crying shame! I hope he gets the help he needs before his other issues come to the front. If his life gets way out of control, the ultimate life changing experience will come knocking on the door. Then it will be too late! Hang in there "Iron Mike".

thats a damn shame.......tyson shouldnt be doin that ****.........his ova if he is!

I heard it was crap.

Apparently he's doing roadwork every day. in arizona

Hopefully this is just some tabloid bull****.

I believe it. Even before tysons fight with Lewis, he was washed up because he no longer had the reflexes that he had as a 20 year old.

Tyson will always have a punch and always have a chin, but he is not a young 38 like Hopkins, he is an old, run down shell of a man that still captivates the public's attention.

I do not think he is going to make it past 40, and when he dies, it will be tragic, and his mystique will be elevated, because there are still people on these forums that will say that at 40 he can be the undisputed leavyweight champoin.

And by the way, the New York POst is not a tabloid.

TYSON: DEBT, DOPE & DESPAIR
Dec 3, 2004
www.newyorkpost.com


December 3, 2004 -- MIKE Tyson — his career in shambles after a fourth-round knockout by British journeyman Danny Williams — is said to be depressed, abusing cocaine and running up debts with shady associates while living in Phoenix, Ariz. with his girlfriend, Shelly, the mother of his two-year-old son.
The troubled former heavyweight champ — who has squandered an estimated $400 million over the course of his career — was $38 million in debt and owed money to at least 246 creditors before his loss to Williams last July.

The shocking KO snuffed out the 38-year-old Tyson's hopes of regaining the heavyweight crown, nixing a seven-fight deal that could have pulled him out of bankruptcy. Since then, he is said to have been sponging off less-than-savory figures to sustain his lavish lifestyle.

"Basically, he's become the modern-day Sonny Liston," a Tyson pal told PAGE SIX. "He's living off other's people's dimes. He's saying to these shady wannabe promoters, 'OK, I'll fight for you. But you have to pay for my hotel rooms, take my friends out on shopping sprees.' He's playing with the wrong people. Eventually, it's gonna come back to him."

The source added that Tyson, who has frequently talked about his prolific marijuana use, has moved onto harder drugs: "Mike's been abusing cocaine. He's been acting very erratically. He needs help." Tyson's manager, Shelly Finkel, did not return calls.

The comparison to Liston is ominous. Liston, another fearsome former heavyweight champ who had plenty of run-ins with the law, was found dead in 1971.

Officially, he died of heart failure and lung congestion, but needle marks in his arm suggest he may have died of a heroin overdose. Others believe mobsters murdered him, or that he was involved in a loan-sharking ring and was demanding a bigger stake.

Liston became heavyweight champ in 1962, but was upset in 1964 by brash young Cassius Clay. The two had a re-match in 1965 in which Clay — who had since changed his name to Muhammad Ali — floored Liston with his infamous "phantom punch."

What's next, a National Enquirer link? Besides, eye8you beat you to the punch and posted this friday.

And by the way, the New York POst is not a tabloid.

That's your opinion. Many others will disagree. The other thread is closed so I can't bump it, but on it I reprinted the Public Enemy song "Letter to the NEw York Post" that came out after they were slandered in the early 1990s.

Tyson will never regain the title. He is finished.

What's next, a National Enquirer link? Besides, eye8you beat you to the punch and posted this friday.

Thought you were get my points in the red? I knew you werent **** all talk and no ballz. Oh well I won again. This article has been at ever forum at all the sites. So I knew is was genuine. You just mad cause yer a Tyson scrotum sailor. THERE SHE BLOWS
LMAO

SCHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLED :D

dont know but i think Tyce can still bang with some guys in the top 20, too bad he doesn't have the mental focus of a bernard hopkins.

Rydell Booker (http://www.boxing-central.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=5411)

anybody see this? looks like rydell booker is screwed

Yep. I heard about Rydell Booker's arrest from boxrec.com. Not many really care though.


Everyone already knows that Tyson is in financial difficulty and runs with bad crowds, so I don't see how that part of the article is deniable. And all famous figures with lavish lifestyles borrow money if they are in debt. Abusing coke is also not something out of Tyson's character. ****, what bad boy star doesn't take drugs?

The only part of the article I can see being exagerrated is...well, none of it.

dont know but i think Tyce can still bang with some guys in the top 20, too bad he doesn't have the mental focus of a bernard hopkins. I'd like to believe that Mike can still bang w/ some of these former bouncers turned top 20 heavyweight "contenders" or chumpions. But Tyson just has so much rust, he never got on track when he got out. I don't know how long he's contracted w/ Finkel, but if Tyson has the opportunity to jump ship, I 'd be the 1st one overboard swimmin' over to B - Hops and GBP, sh*t atleast he'll have somethin' in common w/ the Executioner, who'd done more hard time than Mike's had in his adult life, and Bernard definitely knows how to win! Who does DKP have besides John Ruiz in the heavyweights?

I won't believe it, until I have some hard proof..


Oh yeah, and what's with all the Mike Tyson bashing?

for the Kt/michelle fight on showtime when they interviwed him..he didnt look f-ed up or anything so i also dont believe sh*t till they interview him on the 16th...mike is mike..but the fool dont lie...so we'll see..and even if he lies you cant tell..but i really doubt this is true

I cant tell wether that is true or tabloid gossip. so I cant make a judgement

i would'nt put anything past that lunatic. if he ends up like liston nobody should mourn him. for all his skills, he's an *******.

If thats true then its very sad


Finkel released a news item today, Mike is in training and is being set for a march return 05

Maybe UK or Australia.

I think If Meehan won that would have been a fight. But McBride most likely.

Maybe UK or Australia.

I think If Meehan wo that would have been a fight. But McBride most likely.
I doubt Tyson would be welcome in the UK. The last time he was here he didn't exactly exert much self control whilst fighting.

I doubt Tyson would be welcome in the UK. The last time he was here he didn't exactly exert much self control whilst fighting.

Still would put some bums on seats

Today on PTI they said he is in good shape looking to fight in early March

some people.... when will they learn lol

Today on PTI they said he is in good shape looking to fight in early March


What's PTI? I'm from Australia

What's PTI? I'm from Australia

An ESPN (sports network) program called Pardon The Interruption.

A much more credible source, than say, Page Six of the New York Post.