Mike Tyson, 59, says one piece of advice from his mentor, Cus D’Amato, helped shape the mindset that made him a boxing champion.
“When I had my mentor, he told me not to ever say anything negative about myself. But to say beautiful things about myself,” Tyson told host Theo Von on Friday’s episode of the “This Past Weekend” podcast.
Tyson said his mentor believed that the mind doesn’t distinguish between jokes and genuine self-criticism.
“Always say beautiful things about myself and never say anything negative about myself because my subconscious don’t know if I’m playing or not,” Tyson said.
He added that learning that lesson early in life paid off.
“I had to learn that at 12 to be the champion at 20. You know, if I learned it at 15, 16, hey, it probably wouldn’t have worked out. Then I’d have been champion 22 probably,” he said. “So everything worked out for the right reason.”
Tyson first started boxing while at a reform school in New York, where he was introduced to D’Amato, a boxing coach and promoter, by former boxer Bobby Stewart, who worked at the school as a counselor.
After Tyson’s mother died, D’Amato became his legal guardian and continued training him until his own death in 1985.
In 1986, Tyson became the youngest world heavyweight boxing champion at 20 years, 145 days old. He went on to finish his professional career with 50 wins, including 44 knockouts, before retiring in 2005.
Outside of boxing, Tyson said D’Amato also had a profound impact on his personal life.
When asked what memories he wished had been captured on camera, Tyson immediately pointed to the time he first met his mentor.
“That’s the part I wish could come back. I miss that,” Tyson said.
Reflecting on why the period still meant so much to him, he said D’Amato made him feel cared for and supported.
“I had somebody I loved, and they loved me,” he said.
Living with D’Amato also gave him structure and taught him discipline from a young age. Tyson said he was expected to improve his grades, do chores around the house, and clean the gym after training sessions.
“He was like my father. He was my adopted father, my legally adopted father. I wasn’t out of his sight much. He didn’t let me out of his sight much. He watched who I hung out with,” Tyson said. “He was my everything.”
Tyson isn’t the only celebrity to have spoken about the impact of positive self-talk.
Kylie Kelce has said she tries to model self-love in front of her kids to help build their confidence from a young age.
“I really try my best to make sure that I speak positively about myself, even on the days that I don’t necessarily feel it,” she said.
Barbara Corcoran has said reframing her inner dialogue helped her overcome self-doubt.
“And then when I was about 35, I realized that tape was pulling me back. It was old tape, so then I replaced it. I said, ‘Barbara, you’re a genius. Fuck them all. You’re great,” she said.
