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Mike Tyson
I was scared to death of him. I was scared to death. That's why I didn't do no stupid shit.
Sean Callagy
How does that make you feel?
Mike Tyson
He did it. Ali would talk about your mother, your sisters having sex with.
Sean Callagy
Why he's fighting Muhammad Ali in his prime with Angela Dundee. Mike Tyson his prime custom auto. What happens? Like, what does that look like? What is that all about? Hey, welcome to the Sean Callie Unblinded podcast. We're causing people to see what they don't see about how to grow their money, their time, their magic with absolute integrity. We're here today with a master of masters. We're going to introduce in one second, Mr. Mike Tyson. And my name is Sean Callagy. We are right now the number one business podcast and Apple podcast in the world. Yeah, we're looking to be the undisputed champs there, Mr. Mike Tyson. And we're going to give you a quick intro if that's okay. Yeah, Tank, please. Who's this man?
Narrator
Today we welcome a living myth. A man who rose from the storm swept streets of Brooklyn to become the youngest heavyweight champion in history. Mike Tyson is not just the force of nature in the ring, but a symbol of raw resilience, transformation, and the relentless pursuit of truth. His fists wrote history, but his journey through the triumph, pain and redemption reveals a heart as fierce as his punch. Mike's story is one of power, vulnerability, and the courage to evolve. He's a warrior, a philosopher, and a beacon for anyone who's ever faced impossible odds and dared to rise again.
Sean Callagy
Mr. Mike Tyson, welcome. Thank you, sir. Yeah, pleasure. So, Mr. Tyson, we talk a lot about mentorship and leadership here. And your relationship with Cus d' Amato is literally one of the most famed relationships ever between a mentor and an apprentice. Two masters, like, rising together and you've spoken about so much what he meant to you, what it was. What I love to know is just at the outset, what did he mean to you? How would your life have been different, you think, without the mentorship?
Mike Tyson
I don't like to think about how it would have been different. It's just bad, it looks bad. So I'm one of those guys that believe it wasn't meant to happen. So it didn't happen. But if I didn't meet this guy, it would have been bad. I just can't believe how I met this guy. I miss this guy from the sewer system of Brownsville, Brooklyn, and next thing you know, I'm 13 years old and I'm in the presence of a master. Well, how did that happen? I don't know nothing. The only thing I know is crime. That's all I know, crime. I've been in detentions all my life, reform school. And I'm in front of this guy.
Sean Callagy
How did you meet him?
Mike Tyson
I was. I was in a reformatory. And this is how I started the boxing because I had just. And I was in this other fraternity and unfortunately I stabbed somebody there. So they shipped me to this other place that was really not a nice place, you know, before the other place you could go outside but you had stayed in this place constantly. And so I went there and as I got there I was locked up. I couldn't come in population yet. But I saw guys running to the back, going to their rooms and they had cracked ribs and had cracked teeth, but they were happy. And I'm like, yo, what's going on in there? I couldn't believe the blood. They're happy. And they said they're boxing with Mr. Stewart. It was an ex professional boxer that used to box with the kids if they behaved themselves. So these guys were always on the top, on the rolling because they wanted to boxing with the stool. Even though he was killing them, they wanted to go and box with him. So I said, I'm a box this guy, right? Little white guy, I'm going to go in there and box him. Never boxed before, you know, you think they're smaller than you, you could beat them. So I'm going to swear in the way he's waiting. He got me tight, hit me in the stomach. I never been hit in the stomach in my life. I went down and then I asked him, could you show me that stuff? And I never thought about being a boxer. I'm thinking about I could do this, knock a guy out and go in his pocket. I never thought about being a boxer. So he started teaching me. Once I got my grades up, I had to get my grades up in order for him to do that. And he started teaching me and teaching me and teaching me and then eventually I hit him and he had got a black eye one day and he was mad the next day. And I didn't understand why he was mad because he always kills me, right? But he was mad because his wife said he couldn't box with me no more. But he said, don't worry, I'm going to take you to somebody else and we're going to go to the next level. I had no idea what he was talking about at all. He took me there, cuss met me and said, all These great things about me. The first day that I didn't believe. I thought he was some weirdo kind of perv guy saying all these great things about me. He didn't even know me. Said, well, you ought to be champ if you listen to me. And everything he told me was right. I didn't know who this guy was, but he was like. He was like God sent. There's no doubt. When I met him, I believed in God.
Sean Callagy
That's amazing. Thank you. And the power of mentorship, leadership, God in the space. We'll talk about all that today. But what are other. I had the honor of interviewing Mike Aruzioni from the Miracle and Ice Team. The Olympic gold medalist. He played for Herb Brooks. And he would describe Herb Brooks as one of the most difficult, challenging, aggressive, but masterful humans. And his love for Herb Brooks resonates. I mean, Herb Brooks didn't save his life. The accustomed to save yours, but the rise in his mastery was so powerfully present through the level of mastery that Herb Brooks demanded. And you know, you're coming from a place where you can't trust people. You come up in gangs. We'll talk about that in a little bit. But there's all these people who tried to use you, hurt you, lie to you, dynamics in your home, your folks, your beautiful relationship with your mom, absent dad. All these things are going on. And as you said, you thought Cus d' Amada was a weird relationship.
Mike Tyson
Mom, mother.
Sean Callagy
I'm sorry.
Mike Tyson
You said I had a good relationship. I had a horrible relationship with my mother.
Sean Callagy
Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't understand.
Mike Tyson
I had heard positive things. That's true.
Sean Callagy
Yeah. So. So you had all these people who let you down in. In ways from your mom, dad, all, you know, community, I'm sure, teachers, people. You meet customato and you think for a second he's, you know, a weird guy, lying, just saying nice things to you to use you. Right. What were some of the hardest moments with him? You know, we watched the movie the Karate Kid and Daniel at some point is telling Mr. Miyagi he thinks he's full of it and he's using him and he just want sand his deck, wipe his floors, and he's ready to quit. We have times like that with customato.
Mike Tyson
There have been same thing.
Sean Callagy
Yeah, please.
Mike Tyson
You know, the same thing. He was this. He was a strong believer in discipline to the T. You know, discipline to him was doing what you hated to do, but do it like you love it. You know what I mean? He loved the Art of suffering. No, really, he loved the art of suffering.
Sean Callagy
And what were some of the, the hardest things that Cus d' Amato put you through where you doubted him the most? If you doubted him.
Mike Tyson
Hey, listen, I never doubted him. I doubted me, I doubted me. And I never could see what this man could see in me, this white old 70 year old Ty. What did he see in me?
Sean Callagy
Wow.
Mike Tyson
You know, I was 12 years old, I never lived life. And as I get older, I can see now, wow.
Sean Callagy
But I mean, so. But that's incredible that you didn't doubt him.
Mike Tyson
No, because he told me this. He said, if you listen to me, everything I say and it don't work, you can go home and I'll give you money too. You can go. And I started listening to him and I started knocking people out and I became the national champion, the world amateur champion. This guy, this guy, this is in a year. These guys, it takes years for these kids to win these titles that I'm winning. I'm winning them in one year. Yeah, I was a big star when I was a kid. One year takes people years doing this title. Me being with him took me one year, Right.
Sean Callagy
And for everybody to remember, because I think it could be easy, right? It's so hard for me to call you Mike, Mr. Tyson, but I call you Mike, you asked me to, so thank you, Mike. You know you are gifted, right? You had talent, you had ability.
Mike Tyson
That don't mean nothing.
Sean Callagy
Please explain that to people.
Mike Tyson
It don't mean nothing, right?
Sean Callagy
Explain that to me.
Mike Tyson
Lift up the will of determination, the desire to win. Talent means absolutely nothing. Everyone has talent. Everybody in this room has talent. But how far do you want to go with it?
Sean Callagy
And I think that's such a critical point because so many people could look at you and see what you did at such a young age. And I think the point that I'm taking away most, and thank you, I'm learning today with you here, is that you, when you first started boxing, did not have a box, right? The guy that's training you, punch you and hit you in the stomach and.
Mike Tyson
You can get hurt.
Sean Callagy
Yeah. And then because of the master, a master meeting somebody with incredible talent, ability.
Mike Tyson
You, no, not with desire, wanted to do it. Well, that talent means nothing if I didn't want to do it.
Sean Callagy
And why did you want to do it? Like, what was it that was making you feel good and want to. To put the suffering in with customato. Like, what was the. Why all these other kids are there?
Mike Tyson
Okay.
Sean Callagy
Yeah.
Mike Tyson
He made me Believe that you, if you didn't do this, you were nothing. This was the thing to be the heavyweight champion of the world, baddest man on the planet. He did a number on my head. He did a head job on me. Oh, God.
Sean Callagy
Y. How do you do that? I did read about some of the mind exercises and things. And he would have you visualize.
Mike Tyson
Absolutely.
Sean Callagy
Please tell us about some of that visualization.
Mike Tyson
Talk about, you know, day by day in every way. But I'm still crying thinking about my old, you know, saying this when I was a kid.
Sean Callagy
And what was it that you would say?
Mike Tyson
Day by day in every way, you're getting better and better and better. And that's just. That's the beginning stage. At the end of it, you'll be. Next thing you know, you're saying, I'm God. It's just what it is. It's just. You start from day by day, but everywhere I'm getting better, better, better. Next thing you know, I'm the best fighter ever live. That's just what confidence do to you. Confidence breeds success, Success breeds confidence.
Sean Callagy
Yeah. Well, amen. And would it be okay if we showed. Let's go to the. Just the clip with Cus real quick.
Mike Tyson
Okay?
Sean Callagy
Is that okay?
Mike Tyson
Please. See him talking like that scares the shit out of me. I'm scared that I'm nervous. I'm not doing it right.
Cus D'Amato
Your right shoulder, you see a little bit this way. It should be more this way. So when you're driving it, nothing to hold that brawl, you're going to do real damage.
Mike Tyson
You might drop the guy with one.
Cus D'Amato
Punch, but you aim it here and bring the same hand when he hits here. You ever bring it down, he reaches.
Mike Tyson
I bring down, bang.
Sean Callagy
Over here.
Mike Tyson
Bang.
Cus D'Amato
Whatever took care of here, I can say honestly, I have a very deep affection for him.
Mike Tyson
I do.
Cus D'Amato
To me, he's my boy. He's with me. I often say to him, you know.
Mike Tyson
I owe you a lot.
Cus D'Amato
He doesn't know what I mean, but I'm gonna tell him now what I mean. If he weren't here, I probably wouldn't be alive today. The fact that he is here and doing what he's doing and doing as well as him as he's doing and improving as he has, gives me the motivation and interest to stay alive because I believe that a person dies when they no longer want to live. But I have a reason with Mike here and he gives me the motivation. I will stay alive and I will watch him become a success because I will not leave until that Happens.
Sean Callagy
How does that make you feel? Well.
Mike Tyson
We did it.
Sean Callagy
And this isn't like a contrived moment, Mike. I've had incredible mentors in my life too that have caused things like Customado. I wasn't world champ, I'd never be sitting here as a blind man. 75% of people like me are unemployed. And I'm here because I had my custom autosom as my high school coaches in athletics. That drove me like crazy. And this is something we try to bring out to the world because the things that you're talking about, Mike, are the things that we want the people here to know. We don't want to talk about ear bites and hangover movies and all that's beautiful, it's fun, it's magical and all the things you did. But what people want is what you have. People want to feel the way you feel about custom auto about somebody in their life. They want their life saved like you had your life saved. And that's what my purpose here and you know, these next 30 minutes is to help bring out for people. Because if, as Mike Tyson said, if he could do this, maybe he can't be the champion in the world, but he could be the champion in your house and you could build a business and do things. So I thank you for doing that.
Mike Tyson
This is all about, not necessarily about being the champ of the world, but you're the champion of your world, you know, and that's what life is about, being able to. Like I said about Cus, Cus is always about sacrificing. Here's one day he may not eat for two months. Yes, discipline. All about discipline. Doing what he hates to do, but doing it like he loves it. He just loves starving himself or whatever it is. May not want to drink water for a week or something. He just likes pushing himself to the limit because he's so infatuated with discipline.
Sean Callagy
Can I tell you the truth about something?
Mike Tyson
Please.
Sean Callagy
Yeah. So I thought a lot about these days coming up and it's really attractive, interesting, fun, sexy to have, you know, Mr. Mike Tyson here, you know, causes views people are going to watch because of it. The most important reason that I want to be in this room is because I'm going to be the champion of changing people's lives on the fucking planet. That is my outcome, my goal. And the people that put us together, helping us do that with the truth. Because I want to be what Customado was to people's lives and their businesses. And I wanted to be here and feel the energy because I Knew a lot of this backstory, heard you. You know, all I'm going to say is I had the privilege of meeting you at Tony Robbins house. And that day, the stories you told and what you said, this is what human beings need. People are so scared and so afraid. And I know, I've asked you a couple times. I'm going to ask you, try to ask you one more time though, Mike. What is so special about you is that you didn't tell him to go fuck himself. And so many people want to tell that person who is standing for their future to go fuck off. You had. You had no training, no background in listening to people and being disciplined at that. What I don't understand is the miracle of you and how you didn't tell that white guy to go fuck himself and see him as using you. How did that happen? So people who are listening can do the same thing. So they can get the help they need and not be little.
Mike Tyson
Okay.
Sean Callagy
Runaway running. Yeah. Please.
Mike Tyson
I was scared to death of him. I was scared to death. That's why I didn't do no stupid. He put the fear of God in me.
Sean Callagy
How do you do that?
Mike Tyson
I don't know, but he did it every day. I was his slave. Everything he told me I would do. If he told me to kill somebody, I would do it.
Sean Callagy
Amen. And lock that in everybody. Next time you feel like you gotta go to like some consciousness retreat for mindset and be in flow. That's the champion of fucking world that people would say was the greatest heavyweight of all time.
Mike Tyson
Nobody should talk. You should talk to yourself. No, we don't need to talk to nobody. I know it sounds crazy. You might want to be God. Talk to yourself about that. You know, we don't know who we are. We might be God. We don't know. We might be the aliens. We talking about all that guy. We might be. As a matter of fact, I think we are the aliens. They got us thinking that some aliens. Like we're the aliens.
Sean Callagy
Yeah. Well, thank you. So if I could ask you this, Right? So how do you tell the difference though, right? So at some point Don King comes in and I'm not here, you know, I'm not here to put you say anything you don't want to say, right? But Don King comes in, he's got to look like he's got a lot of value to bring to your life. He's going to promote fights, do things. How do people. How if you. If you could go back and tell your younger self, like would you still have entered the relationship with.
Mike Tyson
Don't know why. I must explain this to you. Like, I lost my mentor. I was injured, I was sick. I wasn't strong anymore. I lost this. Just a major part of me. And so that's why I was really vulnerable. I was looking for that role model.
Sean Callagy
About how long was this, Forgive me, I don't know this. How long after Custom Auto passed, is don king swooping?
Mike Tyson
Two years, probably. Well, no, one year the way that died in. 83. No, 84, 85. So this guy comes around. A year and a half.
Sean Callagy
Got it. All right, can we look at one thing real quick? We've got two more video clips. Let's go see when Mike Tyson becomes the undisputed youngest. The youngest heavyweight champion in history of the world. Let's go take a look at that right now. That was a right to the body.
Mike Tyson
And an uppercut to the head. And Thurbick is down. This one is going to be over.
Cus D'Amato
I believe.
Sean Callagy
It'S over.
Announcer
That's all.
Mike Tyson
And we have a new era in boxing. The winner by a TKO and youngest and new WBC heavyweight champion of the world. I see my son Emitus now. My little baby boy.
Sean Callagy
Your son's how old now?
Mike Tyson
He's 14.
Sean Callagy
14. You have a daughter, 16, right?
Mike Tyson
Yeah.
Sean Callagy
So how do you feel when you see that? And what did Cus d' Amato say to you after that, please.
Mike Tyson
Well, he wasn't alive. He died before he became champ.
Sean Callagy
Right? I do. I'm sorry. From in your heart, your mind, what do you think Cusamato was saying to you?
Mike Tyson
Oh, God, what he said about the fight.
Sean Callagy
Yeah.
Mike Tyson
You'Re sloppy. You meant moving your head. You're swinging one punch at the time. You're not moving. Listen, let me explain what kind of guy we're talking about. Yeah, I had an amateur fight and listen, man, please, when I say this, man, you have to believe I'm very serious. I believe you. I'm an amateur fight, the national, the finals. I knocked the guy out in eight seconds, right? No, no, no. You know what Cuz said? If that guy was a little bit more experienced, he would have hit you. You didn't move your head. You just went right through him. His powers and doing like this muscle just went through him without moving your head after you punt. If he was a little bit more experienced, he would have hit you. And, you know, I'm scared. Like I said, I have highest respect for him. And I'm like, yeah, you're right, Chris. I do see that you're right. But I didn't believe that. But obviously, yeah, you do. Because I'm just afraid of the guy. I'm not going to say nah, cuz n have been. No way. Cuz I would never talk to. That I would never do. Then he never had to worry about me saying, you're wrong. No, that would never happen. I said, yeah, you're right. I'm going to work on that.
Sean Callagy
Michael and Michael, do you hear that? Michael and Michael. You hear that? Yeah. Yes. You're hearing it from this man.
Mike Tyson
Listen, you didn't want him to go on a rampage. He was a anger freak. You didn't want him going on a rampage, so you were. Yes, sir. Yes. Yes, sir. Yeah.
Sean Callagy
Amen. And the power, the power of mentorship and leadership.
Mike Tyson
He made it. Anyone that doesn't have one is going to be screwed. I don't care how much money he got or anything. We've seen it happen to the richest guys, how they just had nobody to take care of them and they just went to shit.
Sean Callagy
So let's go to that then, Mr. Tight. This is. And again, thank you. This is incredible. It really is like the value you're adding. Greatest podcast we've done yet. Facts. Love everybody. I've had a lot of famous people on. This is the best because it's the truth. It's not just, you know, luck and you had to work for everything. Go man to man in the arena.
Mike Tyson
Listen, my guy was. If I went to a school dance, right? And it was getting late and I was getting ready to say, oh, I'm call, I'm waiting for the cab, waiting for a cab. I got to stay up, run, run home. Now I got shoes on. I'm at the dance, at school, with the dance. I used to leave my girl and start running and she got to catch a cab. I'm like, I can't wait for the cab. I'm serious. I got to running home, the shoes, dressed up, looking nice in my grace. Running home.
Sean Callagy
That is amazing. Okay, so custom auto passes. What was that like for you? And how does that turn into a different era of your life?
Mike Tyson
It was almost suicidal. Like I didn't want to exist anymore. I wanted to do it with him. He made this. Excuse me. He made this fucking ride exciting. He's the one he was to push, you know? He made it exciting. I don't know anything. I didn't know anything about being no champion. He made it exciting.
Sean Callagy
From all my heart, I'm sorry. I am so sorry that happened. I'm Sorry for you. I'm sorry for Customato and I'm sorry for the world because what that would have looked like in the rewriting. You rewrote boxing anyway. But what that journey would have looked like if Customado was still there with you.
Mike Tyson
It was meant to be. What it meant to be. He's gonna shake this place up. He was so proud of me, too. I wasn't even proud of me. Like me more than I like myself. See what this is what a mentor make you do. Great mentor make you do that. He talk about amen, Little guy. He wasn't afraid of nobody. Care how big you are tough. He wasn't afraid of nobody.
Sean Callagy
And the reverence and love you hear from Mike Tyson, that's who you should beg to be your mentor, your coach, the person who's impacting you. Somebody who has the mastery of the skills and somebody who could cause this in your heart and your soul and your being.
Mike Tyson
No. Little old man, 78, not fighting nobody. Knife, gun, any.
Sean Callagy
So it's okay then, Mike, if I ask you what happens from there when that mentorship is gone, the vacuum is created. Other people come in. How you. What does that do to your trajectory, your life, your career? From there.
Mike Tyson
It throws you off for a while. I got blinded, you know, I was just fortunate, you know, I mean, God, you know what I mean? Blessed me to last long enough. I didn't give in, you know, because during that, during those periods of time you think about killing yourself, you know, And I didn't do it a couple of times. I thought about it. When I got married, I thought about it. When I got divorced, I thought about it. I just went through emotions. I never thought I could survive, you know, And I did it. I made it. His training helped.
Sean Callagy
Thank you. And so. Choices people make. You have all these influencers online. I love. There's a quote that you said recently. It was something like. I'm not going to get exact. You put out something like, oh, people can hide behind their keyboards now and be disrespectful and not get punched in the face. Tell me about that. Tell me about. We think about the world today. Think about people posing, pretending to be something they're not, you know? Please.
Mike Tyson
It's just that we live in a world now that. And listen, I'm not picking on no particular group anything. I'm just saying what it is, you know, the computer. What's the thing we're on again?
Sean Callagy
ChatGPT or whatever.
Mike Tyson
Whatever it is that's a pedophile or child Rapist. That's his dream. To have that. That's his dream. Those guys get in touch with more kids than anybody does now, you know, and that's been. And it's been. I just didn't like. I don't like that. It gives all the bad guys all the power, you know, it does.
Sean Callagy
Well, if you can go back and give yourself some advice after Cusp passed and talk to your younger self about it donking, becoming a part of your life, you know, what would you tell your younger self? Because some of this was really valuable. You made a lot of money.
Mike Tyson
Listen, I made a lot of money that wasn't valuable. What's more valuable than making all that money was losing it, you know, that was more valuable than having any of it, you know, because you realize that that doesn't define you. You know, I realized even more than myself, I realized people looked at me, you're Mike with a billion dollars in your mic, with 40 cents, you're still Mike. You know, I never treated anybody bad when I was on top of my game. I never treated anybody bad when I wasn't doing well. I used to. I was always Mike. And that's just what. That's just what I lived on, you know, Broke Mike, Rich Mike, whatever, my mic.
Sean Callagy
And how if you gave advice to somebody though, right? So you had. You had an incredible mentor that you believe cared about you in the way you wanted to be cared about. Then later, you had people come into your life that maybe I'm not sure, but seem like from things I've heard and read that you said. Right. That didn't care about you.
Mike Tyson
Well, they're mentors too. They're bad mentors, but they're mentors. So you learn from them as well. I look at everything that I experience in life is just a learning point, a learning moment in my life, you know, something that I can even make it a crutch or else I can make it a. A good experience and learn from it.
Sean Callagy
Yeah. And what did some of those people do? You know, it seems like Cus gave you discipline, he gave you tools, you know, and it seems like from what I've read and heard, I'm not sure. Right. You could tell me if I'm right or wrong. It seems like the bad mentors gave you vices, gave you, you know, parties and a surface level. Seems like customado gave you this deep level that you had purpose and other people try to give you surface level things, you know, jewelry and cars and women and things like, am I hearing that Correctly and true.
Mike Tyson
Listen, this is what some people. This is a guy like me, Power's having a lot of money to cuss. Power is giving money away. That's the difference between him and some people. He believes the more you give away, the more powerful you are.
Sean Callagy
That's awesome.
Mike Tyson
Well, that's just how he think. I don't think I think like him, but that's just how he thinks. That's how he thinks. The more you get, the more you give.
Sean Callagy
Awesome. And what do you think?
Mike Tyson
Huh?
Sean Callagy
What do you think from here? Like, what's. What's life about for you from here? You know, what's. You know, you have a beautiful family.
Mike Tyson
That's what it's all about. The people you care about and the people that care about you and your guys just love each other. That's what life is all about. You can't love the people that don't love you. Even if you love them, you can't make them love you because it's not meant to be. It's just the people with you, even if they're not blood family. I saw some people and I've done it too. Well, sometimes your blood family is not doing right. So you have to make your own family in the street sometimes. And it happens. Whoever you consider your family, your lifelong friend, you gotta stick together. It's your guys against the world.
Sean Callagy
Well, thank you. And let's go back then in time to that. Let's talk about some bigger problems in the world. You've seen it up close and personal. You said coming from, you know, Brownsville and all the pain and insanity of that. What did gangs. Why are gangs so attractive to kids? And is there any solution to that? And were there positive things that came out of for you being a gang?
Mike Tyson
I was really never a gang guy. We had crews, friends. We never said we did this or that. We just had friends with friends and we just hung together, we stole together, we just did a bunch of stuff together. But what you do get from gangs are power. Normally the guy. Normally the big tough guy on the grocery corner, you go to the store, he's there to pick you up. But now he knows you got 20 guys that you hang out. You hang out with those 20 guys in the corner all the time. He's not going to say nothing to you, but hi. That's just how it goes. They know you hanging out with all those guys that caused all that trouble. They're shooting people. They're shooting at people. Hey, man, how you doing? He's not going to bother that guy anymore. And that's a little guy. He's not going to bother him, never again. Maybe if he did, then what happened to him, if he lives through it, he'll never bother those guys again. That's just what a gang does. You only have one time to violate them. Can you imagine what kind of power that gives somebody that been picked on most of his life?
Sean Callagy
Yeah, incredible, right? It's like powerlessness to powerful. So is there a solution? You know, if you were there and you could do anything, tell the politicians or governors or business people, anybody who cares, how do we. Is there a fix?
Mike Tyson
Like let's get these guys some jobs, prepare them for some jobs or something, you know, that's why, you know, listen, I'm just saying this because I know really there's some people in America just so good, they don't want to work and they don't have to be poor. They can be middle sometimes they don't want to work. And that's why we have problems with ice, because the people that are coming in here, they want to work. You know, and I know I don't, you know, I know people don't like that, but what are you going to do with people that want to work against people that don't want to work? I never understood that, but I understand this, too. Illegal criminals coming in here, killing people and murdering people too, that have to stop. That's happened. That's the only thing Trump, they're not letting Trump really go loose on. They're letting him hold. He's holding back from the ICE people now. He's not allowing them really to do what he really feels they should do. I'm just a strong believer that we should protect this country and keep the people that want to be in this country and make this country stronger should be in this country.
Sean Callagy
Well, thank you. You're certainly one of those profound leaders. And so for the, for from here, right, Mike Tyson, what's the rest of this journey? I hope you're here for another 100 years on this earth. What's it?
Mike Tyson
Well, I wouldn't want to be another one.
Sean Callagy
Yeah.
Mike Tyson
God, no.
Sean Callagy
But what is it about from here? Like, I mean, it's family, but it's still things that on a mission level or professional level, you're here today a lot with family.
Mike Tyson
Family have to understand this, that regardless of politician, religion, whatever it is, we're still family. We don't have to be enemies because we have different beliefs in what religion or politicians, we're still blood families. Let's not fight. You know, that's what's going on now. Crazy. The biggest. Listen, I think this has probably been the biggest family dispute since the history of politics, since Trump's been involved. Friends and family, they're having disputes now.
Sean Callagy
Amen. And so what we're hearing from Mike Tyson, who'll get in the ring and knock somebody out and through the ropes, is we're hearing, let's come together 100%. Let's have peace.
Mike Tyson
If he got. Listen, what's the Mandoni, the communist guy. If he got along with that guy, God, what enemies do we have? He does not mad. He's not mad at anybody. I never in a million years thought him in this guy would get them all. Not in a million years. Then I was there at the White House and I saw the meeting. It was beautiful. Didn't have the slightest idea that would go that way.
Sean Callagy
That's beautiful. So with that heart and that love, at one point, you have a fight with an Olympic gold medalist, Michael Spinks and me and my friends save up all of our money, and it cost like $40 to go see it in a movie theater about 20 minutes from here in Hackensack, New Jersey. We get our popcorn, we get our soda. We're ready to see Mike Tyson and Michael Spinks go at it. And would you give me my 40 bucks back?
Mike Tyson
That's why I was told that for a long time.
Sean Callagy
So let's go. Let's go see what that looks like.
Mike Tyson
Oh, God. It's Tyson all the way round.
Sean Callagy
Number one.
Announcer
Future shots to the body. Nothing really heavy landing yet, but he's taking them. The uppercut body shot. Now it goes Mike Spikes for the first time. The count is up to 4 and 5 and 6 and 7 and 8. That was a body shot that took him down. Here comes Mike Spikes in. He leaves the right hand.
Sean Callagy
Wow.
Announcer
I don't think you get up from this. Mike Spinks is laying flat on his back. The count is up to five. It's six. It's seven and eight. He won't be able to do it. It's all over. Mike Tyson has won. It speaks almost all night pro. A dramatic first round knockout for Mike Tyson. Unbelievable spike. It came in the first round.
Sean Callagy
I didn't even get a sip of my soda.
Mike Tyson
That was really wild. I don't even know that guy. I look at that guy. Who the hell.
Sean Callagy
How do you feel about that guy that did that to Michael Spinks?
Mike Tyson
He was just a child. I was in love for really. The first Time. I never had really a girlfriend before, and I'm 21 years old and I have a wife. I probably have one or two girlfriends. The next thing you know, I have a wife. I didn't even. I wasn't even experiencing women or nothing. I just wanted to be a fighter. I was really a knob head back then.
Sean Callagy
And how afraid of you when you came out there? Could you feel the fear of your opponent when you were getting the instructions or you didn't feel that? You didn't think about that. What was present, what were you thinking was in your mind as you're standing there against Michael Spinks? Could you feel his. It looked like he was afraid.
Mike Tyson
I'm just waiting for the bell to ring. The bell ring, because that's not going to do anything. It's looking at each other, you know, you want to hit the guy to make something happen.
Sean Callagy
That's awesome. Could you. Could you feel the fear of your opponents at that time? Like that they would be standing there. Could you feel their fear or you weren't feeling that?
Mike Tyson
I could feel. You could. Listen, you know, let me. I try to explain this. It depends on. It's all about energy. Sometimes I go into the ring, center of the ring with my attitude, and the guy puts his head down and he doesn't look at me. And I go back to the corner, I say, this guy's coming to fight. And so I'm gonna keep my hands up and just try and move my hand because I can see he's coming. I could tell when a guy doesn't look at me normally, nine times out of 10, probably eight out of 10, he's coming to charge right at me. He's coming at me. It never fails. It never fails because I see that energy tells me I'm giving it all. I don't give a damn. It's gonna go all out there and give it my best. And that's pretty scary because somebody comes out here, doesn't care, you know, anything can happen, has nothing to lose. But he's a little nervous. He come back a little nervous to the ring. He said, wow, he's gonna give. He's gonna give it all out in the first round.
Sean Callagy
Well, thank you for that. So how many minutes do we have left?
Narrator
10.
Sean Callagy
10.
Mike Tyson
Okay. So we here for 30 minutes already. Really?
Sean Callagy
We're having fun.
Mike Tyson
We kicking it.
Sean Callagy
So now I'm gonna ask you some questions that again, I promise not try to put you on the spot.
Mike Tyson
And we are, you know, okay.
Sean Callagy
I love Muhammad Ali. I love Mike Tyson. Muhammad Ali in his prime. With Angela Dundee, Mike Tyson. His prime. Customato what happens? Like, what does that look like? What is that all about? Right? So Muhammad Ali never loses those years in his career.
Mike Tyson
Custom loved that fight. Customer love Muhammad Ali so much. He loved that stuff. I love Ali. Ali's the greatest ever. In my mind, I just think he's the greatest. He inspired me. When I first saw him, I was in an institution called Spoffin in New York City. And we came there and they showed the movie. It was around 1977. They showed the movie the greatest. Then the movie, the lights went on and Muhammad Ali walked in. You know, like, I go to visit those kids at homes. He came to visit us. I said, wow. And I wanted to be like. I wanted to be like that guy. And then next time I go to the next reformatory, there's some guy in there to teach people how to box. It was just ordained by God for it to happen, for me to see him and say, wow.
Sean Callagy
So what do you think? That fight, before we even get into, who would have won a loss, like, what do you think the fight would have looked like? What would it have been like? Putting your styles together. Tell us about that fight.
Mike Tyson
This is what's different about Muhammad Ali that other people don't see. Ali is. He's just different. It's hard to explain him. It's just hard to explain this guy, you know, because he's the kind of guy like, say, a guy like Liston and Liston and George Foreman, those guys are ferocious animals, monsters. They kill anybody. But Ali handles him. Those two guys, like they're nothing. Anybody else, those guys would kill him. Who wipe the floor with them. But Ali beats them like they're not. And then they fight Ali. Ali's like, twofa. Nah. He fights Frazier like, twofa nail. Anybody could win. He fights Norton then two Fenell, anybody can. Norton and Frazier fight. These guys, Foreman, Foreman kills them like they're nothing. They fight Ali, Ali gives they. Foreman kill each other. Him and Ali, Ali fight these monsters. He kills them. He knocks them out. So Styles has a lot to do with fighting. You know, the bigger and tougher you are, the more Ali kicks your ass. These guys that are not as tough as those other guys, they give them tough fights for some reason. Styles make fights.
Sean Callagy
So how about putting your styles together? What would that have looked like? What do you think would have happened? What do you think custom motto would have said would have happened?
Mike Tyson
Wow. I don't know. He never would. He told me nobody in the world could beat Muhammad Ali when I was a kid.
Sean Callagy
Well, here's something. Here's something I'm going to tell you. And I'm not a boxer as a baseball player, football player, wrestler, and I'm not customato. And here's something I have never wanted to admit because Muhammad Ali was my favorite of all time. Right? Is I truly believe. And I don't want to say this, but I truly believe you would have beat Muhammad Ali. And after that Spanx fight, my friends and I sat there and they were. They were even bigger Mike Tyson fans than I was. I really appreciated you. I was like, you're great and amazing, but I loved Ali. So anything that was even getting near Ali's legend, I was like, no, no, no, no, no, Right? So I was like, larry Holmes, no way he beat Muhammad Ali when Muhammad Ali was already old. No way. No way. So when you were coming up, I was afraid that you were going to become the greatest of all time and replace Muhammad Ali. I truly believe this. I do believe you would have beat Muhammad Ali.
Mike Tyson
Thank you.
Sean Callagy
I do.
Mike Tyson
Yeah. That's pretty awesome. I really appreciate that. You know, but me, when I look at Ali, you know, I think of the guys he beat and the kind of men that he beat, the personality, they are like, listen, as soon as they come out, they come off of the airport, a bus station, they see a cop. A cop just during racist time, late late 50s, early 60s, he see a cop, he goes right after what? Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. They killed blacks for so much less than that back then. And, you know, and Ali beats these guys like they're nothing. Talk about their mother, talk about screwing their sisters and mothers, like, fighting. Listen, you think I'm playing?
Sean Callagy
I know.
Mike Tyson
You know, listen, Ali was fighting Foreman, right? And the announcer ones that talked to the referee, what was going on in the clinches with him informing and referee. Oh, my God. I can't say what he was saying. Oh, you can't believe what he was saying about the guy's sister? And he said, I just can't tell. The referee was saying. He was just saying, I can't say what he was saying. I just can't believe he said it. And he said, I can't believe he had time to say that. While he fighting, Ali would talk about your mother, your sisters having sex with. Why he fighting? Why he fighting? He's talking about all this crazy stuff. Ali wasn't a normal guy, man. Something was wrong with him. How are you in a fight in your life? This guy's a killer. And you talking about his mother and his sister doing things. Oh, God. Joe Frazier. Did you hear this man? This man is crazy. He's talking no one. How do you talk about a guy, Mother. Joe Frazier thinks he's totally out of his mind. How does he have a chance to talk while these guys fighting? These guys talk about their mothers and sisters. God.
Sean Callagy
So what I'm hearing Mike Tyson say is that the reason Muhammad Ali was the greatest or may have been the greatest. Who knows what would have happened with Mike Tyson without the loss of Cus d', Amato, who is. I mean, inarguably, people say that you, Ali, are the two greatest heavyweights of all time. Which is interesting because Rocky Marcian was undefeated. But it was a different time, different place. But what I'm hearing you say is that the reason. One of the reasons Muhammad Ali was so great and so successful is because his influencing skills, his ability to control people's minds when they fought like the rope a dope and Zaire.
Mike Tyson
Absolutely.
Sean Callagy
Tell us. Tell us about that.
Mike Tyson
No, he just gave people hope. He beat the greatest odds. That's what was big about Ali. When anybody think he was going to lose, Liston amongst it. And then after that, then Liston protege, another ferocious, vicious, scary monster. Then he beats them like that. Nothing. People are worried. People are writing letters. Please don't fight him. Don't fight him. Then he beats these guys, people, because.
Sean Callagy
Because Joe Frazier had beaten Ali after he came out of the Supreme Court thing. And then Foreman destroys Frasier. Right.
Mike Tyson
Norton as well.
Sean Callagy
And Norton as well.
Mike Tyson
And then those both got. They both beat the. Out of Ali, Frazier. And they're the only two guys that beat Ali. This guy is Obliviated, though.
Sean Callagy
Incredible. Well, it. I mean, how amazing is it an honor to talk to Mike Tyson about Muhammad Ali in these fights? Like, this is a dream of mine. So thank you for that as well. In our final couple minutes. You know, Mike, the what do you do for fun? I know your family. I know you love pigeons. I knew somebody who knew at one point, I think he had a hawk. Is that right? At one point you had a hawk that you play with in the desert? I was on the phone one time with someone who's on the phone with you when you were out with your hawk in the desert. And that was a fun, special moment. I was like listening as you were doing that. But what's fun for you now? I know you love animals. I know you love kids.
Mike Tyson
You have a charity, believe it or not. I Can't believe I'm this way. It's my wife and my kids, you know, it's a trip. And I mean, all the kids, all eight of them, not just the younger ones, but just all of them, they all became. Even though we have our different beliefs and stuff because they're adults, but we always support each other. We always family together. And some of them don't get along, but I know they fight together for each other. We're just family. And sometimes I wonder myself, I wonder what it's like being my siblings, being my daughter. Is that a pain in the neck or something? Is that pressure?
Sean Callagy
I'm sure it is. I'm sure it is. How about this movies? So I know you said you love cartoons, you cry cartoons. I know you love the Rocky movie. I know you love Bruce Lee. Any other things? So I know you love Rocky, Bruce Lee, Any other cartoons, things like what are movies, heroes stories that you like to watch or. Wow.
Mike Tyson
Yeah, I love the. I like the Jet Li movies and all that stuff. The Sunday movies on kung Fu Theater and all that stuff when I was a kid, because that's pretty much inspirational stuff. And mostly they're fighting. They're not fighting another clan, they're fighting the Japanese. And it's all about sacrifice. You're stronger than me. The people will follow you. So let me sacrifice my life and you come back and avenge me. You know, in America, you say, I'm gonna sacrifice myself and you avenge me. You say, yes, go sacrifice. Soon as you die, boom, to hell with you. We take all the money for ourselves. But those guys, they just gave you dignity and pride. And all the black kids went to you because that was the cause of the gang theory too. We all stick together as one. The Chinese movies, that's what that was all about. We stick with our clan and we avenge each other.
Sean Callagy
Thank you, Mike. I'm hearing respect, honor, leadership. And so if, maybe we begin to draw to close with this. Do you think about being remembered? Some people I don't. I don't care about that. And some people, you know, do. Do you care about being remembered? And if so, what do you want to be remembered for?
Mike Tyson
Not that much. But if I. But if I have to be remembered for something, I never fuck nobody over that didn't have it coming to them.
Sean Callagy
Me too.
Mike Tyson
That's why. Yeah, that's what I want to be known for.
Sean Callagy
Amen. I want to thank you for the honor of coming here today. The trust. I thought this was going to be amazing and masterful. It Blew my mind. It was 100x, but I swear to God. Do I say what I don't mean. Nope.
Mike Tyson
No.
Sean Callagy
I do.
Mike Tyson
Talk to my wife.
Sean Callagy
I will.
Mike Tyson
Do you never talk to her?
Sean Callagy
I will. If you can talk to Bella, I'll talk to your wife.
Mike Tyson
Never talked to her. She had all the. I thought you talked because she had all the nice things. She knew everything about you and you never talked to her. Huh?
Sean Callagy
I didn't. Yeah.
Mike Tyson
Wow. I thought you talked to her before we got this going on.
Sean Callagy
I would. I would. I would be honest.
Mike Tyson
No, she knew everything about you. That's why.
Sean Callagy
No, thank you.
Mike Tyson
That's why I thought you'd talk.
Sean Callagy
Yeah.
Mike Tyson
And that's interesting.
Sean Callagy
Thank you. And what I'd love you to know as we close is I think that people chase the wrong things. What Custom Idol taught you is what I was taught by incredible high school coaches, leaders. People told me I could Never be Division 1 athlete and baseball player. I was captain of my team. I was going to go on and play professionally if it wasn't for going blind. And I channeled it into the business and the things we do. And what I would love you to know about me as we close is that there's in the world, Mr. Tyson, is that there's people out there who really do care, like Customato did. And I'm one of those people. And my life, my stand is for people to unlock their greatness. And what you have done for me today is priceless, because here's what it is. I back off sometimes the way Customado didn't. And I give space to people in ways I shouldn't because I don't want them to feel bad. I'm being mad at me. And that's not what Customado did for you. It's not what my coaches did for me. Because, Mr. Mike Tyson, you blessed me on a Saturday morning with coming to this space. You've made me a better leader. You've reminded me of the truth. And I am going to be a 100x more powerful, more effective leader than I was walking that door. I was doing pretty good before, but you've made me better. And so is Customato. And it's been an honor and privilege, Mr. Mike Tyson, to have you.
Mike Tyson
I can't believe my wife hasn't talked to me because she told me that she was talking about you like she knew you and talked to you and everything.
Sean Callagy
Thank you. Thank you. And any final things that you'd like to share today?
Mike Tyson
I'm just happy that I came here I was really happy I came.
Sean Callagy
Thank you. God bless you, sir.
Mike Tyson
Thank you so much, brother.
Sean Callagy
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mike Tyson, everybody. Thank you. Thank you.
Podcast: Unblinded with Sean Callagy
Episode: Mike Tyson on Discipline, Power, and the Cost of Greatness
Date: December 16, 2025
Host: Sean Callagy
Guest: Mike Tyson
In this deeply personal and electrifying conversation, Sean Callagy explores the roots of discipline, the true nature of power, and the human cost of greatness with boxing legend Mike Tyson. The episode moves far beyond Tyson's mythic status in the ring, diving into formative mentorship experiences, the pain and necessity of sacrifice, the pitfalls of fame, and the redemptive potential of family and community. Tyson's raw honesty and vulnerability illuminate not just the man behind the myth, but also the universal journey for mastery, resilience, and self-worth.
On Discipline:
“Discipline to him was doing what you hated to do, but do it like you love it.” – Mike Tyson (06:42)
On Self-Belief:
“Day by day in every way, you’re getting better and better...Next thing you know, I’m the best fighter ever lived.” – Mike Tyson (09:48 – 10:11)
On Mentorship:
"He made me believe that if you didn’t do this, you were nothing. This was the thing to be: the heavyweight champion of the world, baddest man on the planet. He did a number on my head.” – Mike Tyson (09:17)
On Fear:
“I was scared to death of him. That’s why I didn’t do no stupid shit.” – Mike Tyson (14:50)
On Wealth:
“What’s more valuable than making all that money was losing it ... because you realize that doesn’t define you.” – Mike Tyson (24:45–25:11)
On Family:
“It’s the people you care about and the people that care about you … that’s what life is all about.” – Mike Tyson (27:16)
On Legacy:
“If I have to be remembered for something, I never fuck nobody over that didn’t have it coming to them.” – Mike Tyson (45:24)
Sean Callagy steers the conversation with genuine curiosity and respect, allowing Tyson to move fluidly between stories of pain, confession, gratitude, and humor. Tyson is direct, at times profane, but always disarmingly sincere—reminding listeners of the inner struggles that accompany outward triumph. Listeners come away with a profound appreciation of the role of mentorship, the importance of suffering for greatness, and the irreplaceable value of love, loyalty, and learning, no matter the outcome.
Mike Tyson’s journey, as chronicled in this episode, becomes less about boxing and more about the universal quest for meaning, redemption, and self-mastery. His vulnerability, coupled with Sean Callagy’s probing yet compassionate interview style, makes this a masterclass not just in influence and greatness, but in humanity itself.