The story of a young Mike Tyson and his rise to fame has been told to us numerous times. For decades, the tale of his difficult upbringing, time in jail, and successful return to the boxing ring has captivated fans. But what if Tyson was influenced by someone who has mostly gone unacknowledged throughout his life? A mentor helped one of the greatest boxers of all time shape himself. a person who used tough love on young Tyson to induce fear in him but ultimately helped him reach his greatest potential.
Tyson was so greatly influenced by this mentor that he later discussed their conversations in a podcast interview, highlighting the enormous influence this person had on his life. Nevertheless, despite his significance, this man’s name has mostly been lost to boxing history.
Tough love: Bobby Stewart’s mentorship of Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson was mentored by famed boxing coach Cus D’Amato when he first started fighting at the age of 13. However, Bobby Stewart, in addition to D’Amato, was another instructor who was important in Tyson’s early growth as a fighter.
In a recent podcast with Randall Kaplan, Tyson recounted how he first met Stewart, who was known to be a rough and tough guy in the neighborhood. “I met this gentleman…I hear Bobby Stewart is a boxer, everyone talks about him. And then he came to my door, knocking on the door and saying, ‘I heard you wanna see me, what do you want? How do you know who I am?’” Tyson said.
Tyson explained that when he expressed his desire to become a fighter, Stewart challenged him to show some respect and dedication first.
“He said everybody wants to be a fighter, show me you want to be a fighter and show some respect to people,” Tyson recalled. “Because I wasn’t that kind, I was disrespectful to everyone. I went to school and I took my reading level from like a 4th grade reading level to like a 7th grade reading level within a couple of months or so. He thought that was great and I went on stage for school, graduation or whatever it was. And I received this diploma certificate and all that stuff.
And he was impressed with that. And it wasn’t like it was a big jump, but to come from 4th to 7th, he thought that was great. So he started training me. He taught me how to fight. He kicked the crap out of me most of the time.”
Watch this story: This man terrified Mike Tyson
In conclusion, Bobby Stewart had a significant influence on Mike Tyson’s life and career. He was the mentor Tyson needed to turn his life around and become the great boxer he is today, despite his tough demeanor and rigid training regimen.
It’s crucial to take into account the influence that mentors like Bobby Stewart can have on our lives when we analyze Tyson’s path. Who in your life has served as a mentor or role model? How have they aided you in achieving your objectives? Tell us in the comments section below.