Baddest Man

From the celebrated New York Times bestselling writer renowned for his detailed coverage of Mike Tyson and his entourage since the 1980s comes an extraordinary noir narrative exploring fame, race, greed, crime, trauma, and the making of a boxing legend. In one pivotal night during the 1980s, Donald Trump gathered famous personalities and high-stakes gamblers at the Jersey Shore to watch 21-year-old Mike Tyson defeat Michael Spinks in a mere 91 seconds, securing earnings exceeding the combined annual salaries of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. Just eight years before this moment, Tyson was a troubled youth from Brooklyn who found a guiding mentor in the legendary boxing trainer Cus D’Amato in upstate New York. Their relationship became a compelling story of mutual salvation, inspiring novelists, screenwriters, and the new era of cable television. Before HBO had Tony Soprano, Tyson was its star attraction. However, beneath the surface of success, Tyson's life was fraught with complexity and darkness. Over the years, he has faced vilification, adulation, and exploitation without ever being fully understood—until now. Renowned biographer Mark Kriegel, who met Tyson early on in his journalism career, delves into Tyson's life by focusing on what the boxer survived rather than just the opponents he bested. Though often likened to Jack Dempsey, Tyson's journey mirrored that of Sonny Liston—Black, feared, and seen as doomed to an early death. While Liston was viewed as an outcast, Tyson became emblematic for a generation shaped by hip hop and violence. Kriegel not only narrates Tyson’s ascendancy but also examines his significant influence on the American consciousness.