Wednesday, Nov 06, 2013
Dubai: Former undisputed heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson admitted his life has been a rollercoaster on the sidelines of a visit to the Dubai Autism Centre in Satwa on Wednesday.
In the UAE ahead of his autobiographical stage show production ‘Mike Tyson, Undisputed Truth,’ to be held at Dubai World Trade Centre’s Shaikh Rashid Hall twice nightly on Thursday and Friday, ‘Iron Mike’ gave a rare insight into his softer side while meeting children with autism.
Asked about his forthcoming show directed by Oscar nominee director Spike Lee and presented by the Alchemy Project, Tyson told Gulf News: “I’m very much looking forward to it.
“It’s pretty much just about my life and more than just boxing, it’s about my life and how I came from being a very poor kid to a very successful boxer to being poor again, to being very successful again.
“It’s just a rollercoaster of life, a collection of dynamic stories that people know about from the papers but never know the underlying story. I’m just very grateful to be able to come here.”
One of the most polarising figures in world sport, the 47-year-old Tyson’s 20-year career was pockmarked by controversy both in and out of the ring. But now, the unyielding fighter once described as ‘The Baddest Man On The Planet’ cuts a figure more at ease with himself.
Seldom was that more apparent than on his visit to Dubai Autism Centre, where he was given a tour of classrooms and met with child autism sufferers. Tyson took part in finger painting, encouraged children in their recital of the Quran and built Mr Potato Heads.
“I’m very fortunate — or unfortunate — enough to have experience with it [autism] because I have friends who have autistic kids and it’s just really a sad thing,” he said.
“It’s something I’m very familiar with. These are children who have been sentenced without committing any crime. This is God’s will — I’m just living in it. I’m just happy to be of help in any way I can.”
Asked if he can relate to being misunderstood by society, Tyson added: “I can never relate to them because I’m very healthy and I’m very fortunate all my children are healthy.”
Hayula Mourad of Dubai Autism Centre said of Tyson’s visit: “It’s very important because with celebrity comes press and with the press comes awareness. This is one way of us reaching out to the public.
“One of the things we teach our children is to socialise and this breaks the routine during a typical day. It’s good for them to accept change and expect the unexpected.”
By Ashley Hammond Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2013. All rights reserved.
