Former heavyweight world champion and International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee Mike Tyson participated in a lively conference call with members of the media today, discussing his upcoming return to Turning Stone Resort Casino on June 6 for an ESPN Friday Night Fights event promoted by Iron Mike Productions. The nationally televised June 6 event will be Tyson’s second at Turning Stone over the last year; he made national headlines last August when he debuted as a promoter and provided intensely personal revelations at the post-fight news conference.
Today’s media conference call, once again, provided reporters with more frank exchanges from Tyson, on his role as a promoter, the current state of boxing, and his personal journeys in life.
“I’m very much looking forward to coming back to Turning Stone,” said Tyson. “I have deep roots in Upstate New York. It was just sensational the last time we were there and we’ll have an even better show this time. Turning Stone was the first stop in my career as a promoter and I’m looking forward to bringing back another successful event.”
“Upstate New York is where it all started. It’s where I put on my first pair of boxing gloves,” Tyson continued. “I never knew anything about boxing before I came to Catskill, NY and was under the tutelage of the legendary Cus D’Amato. I think fans have an affinity for me because I’m an Upstate guy.”
Mike Tyson on the current state of boxing: “Today’s fighters are businessmen. And it may be good, but we fought for pride and ego and just the satisfaction that we were the best fighters on the planet and no one could beat us. Fighters nowadays don’t take it as personal, as we did in my era. What I’m interested in doing is getting my fighters to fight as consistently as possible so the fans can see them constantly. We need the fans to get aligned and involved with the fighters. We have to keep fighters active, because inactivity is the fighter’s worst enemy, and activity is his best friend.”
Mike Tyson on his battle with alcohol and substance abuse: “I’ve been sober since my last discussion about it (August 2013). It’s a struggle, but as of now, I’m winning. I can only deal with the moment. At this moment, I’m doing really well.”
Mike Tyson on his new found fame as a live entertainer and actor: “I’ve gotten more comfortable and it comes from me being a fighter and being comfortable in front of crowds. When I went on stage, I took to it right away. It was just like being in the ring. I was getting live, instant gratification, being on stage, and it all stems from boxing, from being in front of large crowds.”
Tyson will participate in a series of on-site events at Turning Stone during fight week in June. More details will be announced soon. Many more of boxing’s greats will also descend upon Central New York that same week with a series of events.
The two main events on Turning Stone’s June 6 ESPN Friday Night Fights broadcast will be a 10-round light middleweight bout featuring Yudel Jhonson (15-1, 9 KOs) facing Norberto Gonzalez (20-3, 13 KOs) for the WBC Latin Title, and an 8-round welterweight bout featuring Sammy Vasquez Jr. (14-0, 10 KOs) taking on Jay Krupp (17-6, 8 KOs). The June 6 event will also feature a special attraction with Ievgen Khytrov (4-0, 4 KOs) in an 8-round middleweight bout.
The event will be broadcast live on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights beginning at 10:30 p.m. Doors will open at 7:00 p.m. with the first preliminary bout scheduled for 8:00 p.m. All bouts are subject to change. Tickets are priced at $60, $35, $25 and $15, and are on sale now, by visiting the Turning Stone box office or calling (315) 361-7469, or through Ticketmaster.