Article and photo by Debbie Edwards

Boxing, Bitches, & Lawsuits…. what show on this planet would claim such a title? Actually, no show that I’ve ever attended has, but Mike Tyson in his one-man, off Broadway show, entitled “Mike Tyson’s Undisputed Truth”, encompasses those three subjects and much more. Most of us know Mike Tyson as the hard-hitting, controversial heavyweight who was the youngest to win the heavyweight championship of the world at the age of 20 years and four months old. Some of us know that he still holds the record for the quickest knockout in an amateur bout, accomplishing this feat in a mere 8 seconds. But very few of us know what makes the phenomena of Mike Tyson tick, what motivates him, what moves him, what touches his inner soul.

Tyson jokingly stated that he wanted to call his show “Boxing, Bitches, and Lawsuits”. That title was vetoed by his wife Kiki. Most of us know details of his life that would lead to choosing such a title… The Robin Givens era, the legal woes, the betrayals, the financial reversals. In his show, Tyson revealed his soul to a lively and vocal crowd at The Joint at The Hard Rock Casino in Tulsa Oklahoma. He was animated, jovial, friendly. He reflected on the highlights of his life, and shared his troubles. He was interactive, honest, and forthcoming. The man that was machine-like in the ring was human on the stage, and his troubles, his heartbreaks, his challenges moved the audience immensely.

Much of Mike Tyson’s life has played out in the media and in the courts. The beauty of this show is that he shared the details of his life that brought him to this point, but more importantly, how he was able to triumph despite adversity. He managed to convey to the audience the message that life’s lemons can be turned into lemonade. However, his manner of delivery is what impressed me most. Through humor and brutal honesty, he drove home the message that regardless of the circumstances surrounding a person’s beginning, he or she can attain success if life’s lessons are embraced and the person surrounds themselves with good people.

I encourage fans and cynics alike to see the show when it comes to a city near you. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will gain insight of how some rise above adversity….

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