Mike Tyson spent years dismissing the idea of a personal legacy, but the former heavyweight champion now says he has found something he wants to continue long after he is gone.
During an interview with TMZ Sports, Tyson identified the Mike Tyson Invitational, his amateur boxing showcase for rising fighters, as the work through which he hopes to be remembered.
“This is my legacy, God willing,” Tyson said. “I want this to be my legacy.”
Tyson Has Changed His Mind About Legacy
Tyson’s answer marks a sharp shift from the position he expressed before his 2024 fight against Jake Paul. When a young interviewer asked how he wanted to be remembered, Tyson said he did not believe in legacy and considered it “another word for ego.”
“I want to keep going even when I’m no longer around,” Tyson said of the Invitational. “Since people make legacy such a big thing, this would be my legacy.”
About 350 Fighters Registered Within Hours
Tyson said interest in the second event was immediate when registration opened. “You won’t believe the number of people we had sign up this time,” he said. “350 kids in a couple hours.”
The figure represents the number of applicants rather than the final fight card. The Invitational is an invite-only showcase, with competitors selected and matched according to their weight, ability and experience instead of being placed into a traditional elimination bracket.
Tyson said he was “gratefully honored” by the response and wants to rebuild the amateur system that helped develop him during the early 1980s. When Tyson was a teenager, frequent amateur events allowed him to gain experience before turning professional in 1985. He now believes young American fighters have fewer opportunities to compete regularly and attract the attention needed to advance.
The First Invitational Removed Major Financial Barriers
The inaugural Mike Tyson Invitational took place from March 12 through March 14 at SAHARA Las Vegas. It featured 52 amateur fighters in 26 bouts, with participants ranging from 9 to 24 years old.
There were no registration fees or pay-to-play requirements. Tyson funded the event into six figures, while lodging, meals and training facilities were provided for the fighters and their coaches, according to Boxing Insider.
He Wants the Invitational to Continue Without Him
Tyson believes the program can provide young fighters with more than a single night in the ring. He said participation could bring discipline, confidence and connections capable of changing the direction of their careers.
“You are not going to have no idea the benefits these young fighters are going to get from this,” he said. “It’s going to change their whole life.”
The second Invitational’s fight night begins July 25 at the SAHARA Theatre, with doors opening at 1 p.m. and the first bout scheduled for 2 p.m. “Mike Tyson had his turn,” Tyson said. “It’s time for these young guys now.”