“He’s a Mess, but Bobby Stewart Got Involved”: 38 Years After His Death, the Late Cus D’Amato’s First Meeting with the Then 12-Year-Old Mike Tyson, Narrated by Former Close Aide

In a podcast with Lex Fridman, legendary trainer Teddy Atlas shed light on how he and Cus D’Amato discovered Mike Tyson. Growing up in Brooklin, New York, Tyson could not stay out of trouble. By the time Mike turned twelve, he had been arrested approximately 38 times, which landed him in Tyron School for Boys. However, his arrival in the reform school was a blessing in disguise. 

There, the future ‘Baddest man on the Planet’ met Bobby Stewart, a detention counselor, and a former Golden Gloves Champion. Stewart did all he could to teach ‘Iron’ Mike all the ABCs of boxing, but he had his limits. So, Cus D’Amato, alongside Teddy Atlas, had to take charge of the uncut diamond. Unfortunately, Cus passed away a little over a year before Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion. Thirty-eight years after D’Amato’s death, however, Atlas reveals their first encounter ever with Mike Tyson.

Atlas wanted to see Mike’s birth certificate

During the podcast, Atlas revealed how he felt when he first saw Mike Tyson. “Well, I wanted to see his birth certificate because he [was] 190 pounds, 12 years old, and all solid,” remarked Atlas. He went on to suggest that Cus was testing him that day, as Cus asked him, “What do you think?” In response, the legendary trainer stated, “We ain’t going to know nothing in the bag. Who the freak cares about that? He knocked the bag down!”

Instead, Atlas wanted to test Mike in another way, pitting him with an actual boxer. “We got to put him in with…Bobby Stewart – former pro fighter. [He] had 14 professional fights. [He was] smaller than Tyson…But still, he’s 28 years old, [and] Tyson’s 12, come on, and he’ll work with him,” said Atlas. He later added Tyson recognized the opportunity. “If he passed the audition, he could possibly change his life,” said Atlas. In the audition, Tyson showed Atlas and D’Amato everything they wanted to see and more. Thus they accepted him to the school. However, what’s even more interesting is how the meeting was arranged!

Cus D’Amato and Teddy Atlas met Mike Tyson when he was 12 and 190 pounds

In the same podcast, Atlas revealed he was training little kids in D’Amato’s gym in Catskills, New York. However, after approximately four years of doing that, they received a call from Matt Baranski, who told them about Bobby Stewart. Atlas claimed Cus had helped Stewart during his career in boxing, so Baranski told them that Stewart wanted Cus to train a young guy in his gym.

Also Read: Infamous for Putting Mike Tyson at Gunpoint, Legendary Trainer Reveals Lucrative Offer He Refused From Late Cus D’Amato to “Disappear”

“We get a phone call that they got this kid in prison from one of the guys that knew Cus, Matt Baranski. There’s [a] correction officer named Bobby Stewart…They knew we had this gym…[He said] we got this kid, Mike Tyson. He’s 12 years old, he’s 190 pounds, he’s a mess, but Bobby Stewart got involved with him…he’s taking a liking to it. He [Mike] didn’t behave at all, and he didn’t listen to anyone. Now he’s listening because Bobby’s got a carrot and [that] is he teaching boxing…we want you to take a look, you and Teddy. Alright, bring him down,” recalled Atlas. However, after they finally met Mike, Cus liked Mike so much that he adopted him.

Decades after they first encountered a 12-year-old Mike Tyson in the Catskills boxing gym, Teddy Atlas retells the story of how a legend was born. What if that meeting hadn’t happened? What if Stewart didn’t contact Cus? These are questions the boxing world wouldn’t want an answer to! 

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