Mike Tyson has found a way to embrace silence. The years of living in the fast lane, issues with controlling anger and drug use have become a thing of the past for Tyson. However, he understands himself and knows that one mishap could cause him to backslide.
It’s a scary feeling for the man who became an icon by pummeling opponents in the boxing ring as a youth.
To remain levelheaded, Tyson finds solace in a room located in his home in the suburbs of Las Vegas. During our trip to Tyson’s home, he took a moment to show us his place of reflection. It’s an all-white room where every person must remove their shoes before entering. On the walls, there are close to 20 black and white portraits inside black picture frames.
Many of the photos are of Tyson’s deceased mentor and boxing trainer, Cus D’Amato. The other pictures are of Tyson during his rise to glory.
This is before he became the youngest heavyweight champion in history, earned over $400 million and stood at the top of the boxing world. The pictures are a reminder of a time when Tyson was a bit more innocent and only desired to be the best.
The pictures tell the story of the calm before he was engulfed by the chaotic storm of fortune and fame. Tyson can never return to that period where things were so simple, but the pictures surrounding him act somewhat as a blanket of comfort.
When Tyson isn’t reflecting in the room, he often grabs a video game controller and begins zapping space zombies on a large screen TV. The spirit of competition remains, but this approach is more playful and childlike.
Overall, Tyson’s all-white room serves as a place to escape and for him to reflect on an era that brings him peace.
Mike Tyson will appear on an upcoming cover of rolling out magazine. He is currently on tour for his one-man stage play, The Undisputed Truth.
Words: Amir Shaw
Photo: Evans Smith
