Many times we have been told the tale of a young Mike Tyson and his ascent to prominence. Fans have been enthralled by the story of his turbulent background, time spent in prison, and successful comeback to the boxing ring for decades. But what if there was a significant person in Tyson’s life who has mostly gone unrecognized? One of the greatest boxers of all time had a mentor who worked with him to mold him. A person who instilled fear in the young Tyson through his use of tough love but ultimately assisted him in realizing his full potential.

This mentor’s influence on Tyson was so profound that he later recounted their interactions in a podcast interview, revealing just how much of an impact this man had on his life. But despite his importance, this man’s name has largely been forgotten in the annals of boxing history.

Tough love: Bobby Stewart’s mentorship of Mike Tyson

Mike Tyson was mentored by famed boxing coach Cus D’Amato when he first started fighting at the age of 13. However, Bobby Stewart, in addition to D’Amato, was another instructor who was important in Tyson’s early growth as a fighter.

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In a recent podcast with Randall Kaplan, Tyson recounted how he first met Stewart, who was known to be a rough and tough guy in the neighborhood. “I met this gentleman…I hear Bobby Stewart is a boxer, everyone talks about him. And then he came to my door, knocking on the door and saying, ‘I heard you wanna see me, what do you want? How do you know who I am?'” Tyson said.

Tyson explained that when he expressed his desire to become a fighter, Stewart challenged him to show some respect and dedication first.

“He said everybody wants to be a fighter, show me you want to be a fighter and show some respect to people,” Tyson recalled. “Because I wasn’t that kind, I was disrespectful to everyone. I went to school and I took my reading level from like a 4th grade reading level to like a 7th grade reading level within a couple of months or so. He thought that was great and I went on stage for school, graduation or whatever it was. And I received this diploma certificate and all that stuff. And he was impressed with that. And it wasn’t like it was a big jump, but to come from 4th to 7th, he thought that was great. So he started training me. He taught me how to fight. He kicked the crap out of me most of the time.”

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In conclusion, Bobby Stewart had a significant influence on Mike Tyson’s life and career. He was the mentor Tyson needed to turn his life around and become the great boxer he is today, despite his tough demeanor and rigid training regimen.

It’s crucial to take into account the influence that mentors like Bobby Stewart can have on our lives when we analyze Tyson’s path. Who in your life has served as a mentor or role model? How have they aided you in achieving your objectives? Tell us in the comments section below.