On today's Oprah, Mike Tyson discussed Tyson, the documentary chronicling the champion boxer's life. Tyson opened up about the recent death of his 4-year-old daughter, his tumultuous marriage to Robin Givens, his rape conviction, and biting off Evander Holyfield's ear.
The award-winning documentary allows viewers to at least understand the one-time champion, if not feel empathy for him. Tyson never knew his father, and his mother died when he was 16. His manager and trainer Cus D'Amato became his legal guardian, but died only three years later. D'Amato had taught Tyson to be a machine, and encouraged him to never show any emotion, which was ideal for a successful boxing career, but proved to problematic when it came to being successful at relationships. Still, Tyson chokes up every time he speaks of his mentor.
Tyson spoke about his 8-month marriage to actress Robin Givens (he was 21 and she was 23). He claims that it was a mutually abusive relationship.
In 1991, Tyson was arrested and charged with rape. He always maintained his innocence, but he was convicted, and served three years in prison. Oprah mostly glossed over the actual assault, and focused more on the impact that prison made on Tyson.
In 1997, during a rematch against Evander Holyfield, an unhinged Tyson bit off his opponent's ear. Tyson says that he didn't really feel remorse or even apologetic about the incident until recently.
Perhaps the saddest (personal) chapter of Tyson's life happened just this past May when his 4-year-old daughter, Exodus, died in a freak accident after becoming tangled in an electrical cord and asphyxiated on some exercise equipment. Tyson said that he doesn't know the details of her death, nor does he want to find out, because he said that he doesn't want to be able to place blame on anyone.