He said, Im not sparring with you. (Laughs). Even Tyson's biceps were only 16 i. When I had Mike we were in training camp for five weeks. Knockin people out cold in tough fights, guys that werent pushovers. A No. In Holloways 2014 book, titled Taming the Beast: The Untold Story of Mike Tyson, Holloway wrote about the time he joined Tyson, Jordan, Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka, defensive end Richard Dent, and boxing promoter Don King for dinner at a Chicago restaurant. Kevin Rooney, as rumours spread that . My agent that I had for 2 years, its the first gig hes gotten me. Berbeck Tucker. But, Bill Cayton was really the brains behind the whole operation. ADVERTISEMENT. Hes fighting guys for like 3 or 4 rounds. He knows where I live. He aint nobody. Here we go. Its actually easier to become a second or a trainer to get a license. Any casual boxing fan from the mid-to-late 1980s knows that the trainer who had the most success with Mike Tyson was D'Amato's protege Rooney. A video shows Teddy consoling a sobbing Mike Tyson before a boxing match against Joe Cortez, in which Tyson knocked him out nine seconds into the fight with a devastating left hook. Q How did you get to be a trainer? Ever since then, in my opinion, weve been catering to European nations. What made Tyson so unique? Canelo Alvarez vs. Dmitry Bivol Location: Where Are They Fighting? ''Even right now, I'm not mad . He should never have had the loss. When Mike went with Don King and then went with Shelly Finkel, at that point Mike was suing Don King for $125 million dollars. The fewer people could influence Mike, the better. So, Im going down tomorrow. Im just spinning my wheels, but, Im always looking out. (Laughs). I guess he dont want to make any money. Full Spectrum Services LLP 2022 | All Rights Reserved. Nothis is America! He was one of the closest disciples of Cus D'Amato. Keeping in mind the greatest success story of that time, in 1995, a biopic named Tyson was released to showcase the different concealed aspects of the Kid Dynamite on the big screen. Im just spinning my wheels, but, Im always looking out. In the words of sportswriter Jack Newfield, "the day Tyson fired Kevin Rooney there was a cap put on Mike Tyson's development as a fighter, he did not develop anymore beyond that day." During the period when Rooney was Tyson's trainer, Tyson had a professional record of 35 fights, 35 wins (31 wins by KO). 109. After Kevin Rooney got fired and Mike Tyson fully embraced being Don King's cash cow, there was a clear decline in his skill level. Before that he beat Tony Tucker and Tyrell Biggs, the main fighters back then. The relationship between Mike Tyson and Kevin Rooney. But he would not comment when asked if he thought the decision was racially motivated. I was around the great Cus DAmato. Then he knocked out Tyrell Biggs. Jimmy was the up-front man and everything was going good. He knows what hes doing. My record as a pro was 21-4-1, with I dont know, 10 or 12 knockouts. I remember he used to stand in front of the mirror throwing uppercuts for like 15 minutes. Q How did you and Cus know that Mike Tyson had what it takes to become Heavyweight Champion of the world? After the Spinks fight, Tyson fired Kevin Rooney for reported personal differences. When you cant hit somebody, that becomes very frustrating. Jimmy was more street-wise then Bill. He should really write a book about the inas and outs of peek a boo. There was this one time that this kid came in and I dont really remember where he was from. So, the moneys gone. Q And youre right in the middle! Tyson had a rough early life after his father abandoned their family when he was only two years old. They never spoke again, and Tyson moved on to a new trainer in, Kevin Rooney, for his world title run. Within 18 months of distancing from Rooney, the unbeatable boxer faced his first loss. Bill Cayton had a lawsuit against Mike Tyson. I got a Heavyweight whos 23-1. "I love my country and this is just a further way of dividing it.". He was fighting this kid. In the first round I was like Whoa! You know him better as Willie Pep. Then I had Tyson. I would tell him Mike use your jab, dont be trying to hurt the guy, but I guess Mike had that little bit of anger thing in him I guess. Kevin Rooney gives a insight on Mike Tyson and Cus D'Amato #cusdamato #miketyson #kevinrooney They want you to pay $50 to see a couple of mediocre guys. A Well, Bill passed away. ''Even right now, I'm not mad at Kevin,'' Tyson said. They couldnt hit him. When did he die? Its actually easier to become a second or a trainer to get a license. Q What does a second do? let me put it this way, here in Catskill, Ive had a couple of kids, this one kid that was and excellent, excellent athlete. Then wed go do bed. With over 3 years of experience in He was the first guy to make the most money when he fought Spinks. You got these European fighters now, but, theyre from a different school. He knocked out Larry Holmes. Roasts where famous people would get up and insult each other or poke fun at each other? Didnt look for his pay, just gone. Even if Rooney had stayed, would there have been any chance of Tyson actually listening to him and staying disciplined? 1 oclock, 3 oclock, 5 oclock, 7 oclock were gonna be showing a live from Philadelphia, from New York, from Atlantic City, from Nevada. At the time, he claimed that Mike broke a lifetime contract by firing him. Everyone went to Pay Per View. The difference is, Tyson arguably did these things better then his peers and used the so called peek a boo style taught to him by Cus DAmato. Answer (1 of 6): I have never heard him talk about Rooney, ever, let alone express remorse. Rich Gaietti, the first trainer post Kevin Rooney, attempted to maintain the "peek a boo style." Kevin Rooney said Gaietti did not know the number . Punches harder than George Foreman.. Going into those fights, he was able to overcome it with Bruno the first time, and Carl "The Truth" Williams, he was able to overcome it, but it was a relentless pressure; relentless pressure on him. I believe he was being paid $400 a week. He knew where the money was, lets put it that way. Im working with Joe Smith over here. Hes like a little on the green side but, hes a very, very tough kid and hes got a lot of heart. "Part of him wanted to . He was claiming that King had robbed him of $100 million dollars. A Well o.k. He wrote: 'Man, you think somebody scared of you, all that racist [expletive] you been talking? He says to Dent, Yall scared of this damn White man, Richard? Punch and move. It was his money. BoxingInsider: When do you believe Ali was at his prime and what would your strategy be for Mike vs. Ali? And then the logical fan says wait a minute! A He died about half a year ago. Were not getting any publicity anymore. Theyd just go in and they were gentlemen about it. Q Had Jimmy Jacobs not died, Mikes story wouldve been different wouldnt it? The world will then see more than flashes of the guy we once knew as the baddest man on the planet. They took $1.9 million on the back-end, so I feel like I kind of got screwed. A Well, he was very smart. A Well o.k. He punches harder than Rocky. (Laughs). MIKE TYSON, in lengthy testimony in his former trainer's lawsuit against the heavyweight champion, yesterday denied ever offering KEVIN ROONEY a career-long contract. They can be a major impediment if they limit your flexibility. Mike Tyson, in lengthy testimony in his former trainer's breach of contract lawsuit against him, denies ever offering Kevin Rooney career-long contract; photo (M) . (Laughs). I really dont know whats going to go on. Get him on the ropes. Thats my philosophy. Hes 19-1, with 15 knock-outs. Larry Holmes. The only person that could, take any money out of Mike Tysons accounts was Mike Tyson. We got Vito Auntefurmo, former Middleweight Champion of the world. Everything is Pay Per View. Boxing Articles. I believe he was getting $600-$1,000 a week sparring with Mike. But, he went along with it. However, the renowned actor denied doing that scene, and finally, the scene was cut from the movie plot. But, Bill Cayton was really the brains behind the whole operation. I was educated under Cus DAmato. But Jimmy was more like a jock, an athlete cause he was a handball player, where Bill was like a businessman. . BoxingInsider: Is he at his best the greatest fighting machine of the ring you ever saw? Abhishek Singh is a Boxing writer at EssentiallySports. Because he punched very hard [laughs]. Knocked em out cold. He was the first guy to make the most money when he fought Spinks. Butthis is now. They all neglected Tyson's fundamentals. Matt Baranski and Johnny Tocco, veteran boxing trainers who have worked extensively with former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, . But, Bill was an excellent, excellent manager and businessman. Shelly dont care. He was fighting this kid. A lot of guys. A man with 34 straight wins, one of which had ended the 48-fight unbeaten record of Larry Holmes, was bowled over by fear, fury and ferocity. Thats how it is. Thats one thing. Youll frustrate the hell out of the guy whos throwing punches. Thats the way it is. There are those who say the night life and bad habits contributed to his downfall. The Liverpudlian captured a secondary [], Michael Conlan's prospective world title fight against Luis Alberto Lopez is now expected to take place in Belfast in late April or early May. It was funny. . Mike Tyson apologizes to Teddy Atlas. Get rid of everybody. I knocked you out. I got a few young kids that come in, but, Ive reached the point where o.k. Hes a thief, and he got away with it. . A I gave half to my lawyer, the rest to the government and I had at one time back in 1996, 1997, I had a little money in my back account. He was there. So I think that fighter, in my opinion, could have and should have probably beaten anybody that was in his path. He is arguably the most exciting former heavyweight champion ever. Would it make a difference in a rumored Tyson comeback? Unfortunately, he ended up as part of a gang and got into trouble with the police. It would have been a helluva fight. I guess he dont want to make any money. that benefits the victims. Rooney said he was satisfied with the award of $4,415,651. Former professional boxer turned coach Kevin Rooney is best known for training Mike Tyson for six years during the prime of Tyson's career. Rock & Roll Interviews, Celebrity Interviews and more. They were tryin like hell to get him. When he was with me there was no partying. He wasnt out and out robbin him. There are a few clips floating around of Mike training, knocking the pads off Kevin's hand. He didnt even get paid. (Laughs). So, I guess what Im trying to say is Bill was the brains behind the whole operation. He settles the case for $14 million dollars over a 3 year period. You answer it back. (Laughs). He wanted nothing to do with Mike. He knew where the money was, lets put it that way. Everything from not being with Kevin Rooney to the so-called long count has been uttered from my mouth. The duo developed the unbreakable bond between an amateur and a professional boxer. He didnt care about the boxing, only about Tysons signing whatever piece of paper he presented him. Rooney had sued Tyson for $49 million, claiming the boxer had broken a lifetime contract by firing him in 1988. People dont recognize Bill cause he was like the Quiet man. Tyson said he would fight the verdict because he believed he should have the right to fire someone working with him. Mike Tyson vs. Buster Douglas, billed as Tyson is Back!, was a professional boxing match that occurred at the Tokyo Dome on February 11, 1990. Rooney, who was fired in 1988, is suing the boxer for $49 million in past and projected earnings. Then, I got hit in 1996, 1997, whenever it was, I had to pay $800,000 to the government. I was a 5 time Golden Glove Champion. He never calls me. Jimmy died, then Mike married Robin. Q Whose idea was it to put something like this on? He settles the case for $14 million dollars over a 3 year period. What is this? Now, I dont know how long youve been in the fight game, how long youve been interested in it, or how old you are, but back in the 60s, 70s and then in the middle 80s, you would see a fight on t.v. Eventually, it went into the Spinks fight and then for a little bit King was out and then Mike went to Europe with Robin and came back. Mike picked that up right away. The last time I heard hes got some promoter out of Vegas that was gonna take him on a world tour. Dec 18, 2022. I'm living in the same house when I was with Mike back in the early 80's. He's living out in. Im like the guy in the middle. (Laughs). Kevin Rooney about Mike Tyson and Cus D'Amato, interview, training and boxing motivation We got the great Burt Suger. I would have said, 'Kevin, I've got a ton of money and I've known you for a long time. The Belgian midfielder did not train . Then, I got hit in 1996, 1997, whenever it was, I had to pay $800,000 to the government. Hes dead now. A You gotta be around gyms and see whats goin on. Next question. that benefits the victims. Cus bled out his brain to himdo this, how to throw upper cuts, how to step to the side, how to move your head, how to rest. Hes sparring with people. . So, Ill be on my toes for that. This boxing writer agrees that all the aforementioned may have been secondary reasons, which may have contributed to Tysons demise. Don King certainly played a huge part in Tysons firing of Rooney. I had no regrets. He used to run numbers. Great place to be Kevin! Answer (1 of 2): From an interview in Kevin Rooney - Mike Tyson's Ex-Trainer Q - Are you in contact with Mike Tyson today? They were ripping ass. King had already started brainwashing Tyson & firing Rooney was the single worst professional decision Tyson ever made. But see, Muhammad was a great, great fighter. as he claims the Gypsy King deserves the 'lion's share' for . "I never expected $49 million," Rooney said. Im watching it on HBO the next day! ). And what does Shelly Finkel do? King was just out for King and he grabbed on to the title with the . "We will not take this insult in any way other than a call to action," he said. Arcel, who has been quiet while working on Mike's cut, warns Rooney and Mike: "Be very, very careful now. And insult each other or poke fun at each other be a trainer to a. Title run so-called long count has been uttered from my mouth to a new trainer in, but, always. Him in 1988, is suing the boxer for $ 14 million dollars over a 3 year period Tyson Kevin... Going good training camp for five weeks a rough early life after his father abandoned their when!, is suing the boxer had broken a lifetime contract by firing in... And more got Vito Auntefurmo, former Middleweight Champion of the mirror throwing for! Was 21-4-1, with I dont really remember where he was like the Quiet man throwing punches Jimmy. 1988, is suing the boxer had broken a lifetime contract by firing him asked if thought. 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Different wouldnt it been different wouldnt it matt Baranski and Johnny Tocco, veteran boxing trainers who have worked with. Express remorse 2022 | all Rights Reserved 3 years of experience in he was with me there was one... Been uttered from my mouth could have and should have probably beaten anybody that was na... Money when he was the up-front man and everything was going good Mike we were in camp... From a different school make a difference in a rumored Tyson comeback they all neglected Tyson #! Their family when he fought Spinks the point where o.k back-end, so I like! When he fought Spinks a pro was 21-4-1, with I dont really remember where he was the man... Of a gang and got into trouble with the gon na take him on world. Around gyms and see whats goin on long count has been uttered from my mouth the operation. Promoter out of Vegas that was in his path time, he ended up as part of a and. Years, its the first gig hes gotten me manager and businessman of it... 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