MIKE TYSON - TYSON IN TEARS OVER MENTOR'S DEATH

TYSON IN TEARS OVER MENTOR'S DEATH

Hard man MIKE TYSON fought back tears on national television in America on Monday (12Oct09) when he remembered the boxing coach who rescued him from a life on the streets and turned him into a champion.
In new documentary Tyson, the former fighter gets emotional as he talks about Cus D'Amato - the man he regarded as a leading father figure in his life - and he fell apart again when he was asked to talk about his old coach, who died in 1985, during an appearance on TV show Oprah.
Stumbling over his words, Tyson said he had no interest in boxing once his mentor passed away, stating, "I didn't have any real desire to do that stuff... fight anymore."
And the tragedy sent him off down a path of self-destruction.
Tyson added, "I started drinking and going to drugs a lot."
Tearing up, the former fighter told host Oprah Winfrey that it was D'Amato who told him to hide his emotions, so he could be "a god".
At one point, the champ struggled to continue as he recalled watching classic fights with his mentor and friend.
Tyson recalled, "We would watch all the great fights and I would ask him, 'How do you beat him?'
"(He'd just say) 'No one could beat Muhammad Ali...' That's what I was taught... I listened to my mentor and he said Ali is the best ever and I agree with him."