TGtS Meets... Rory Holloway

We've been speaking to Rory Holloway; ex-manager of heavy weight boxing champion Mike Tyson, on life behind the legend and the launch of his exciting new book...

We’re really excited to hear about your new book; Taming the Beast: The Untold Story of Mike Tyson, can you tell us a little about it?

Taming the Beast is an intimate look into the life and times of Mike Tyson, and unravels public perception of Mike Tyson that was created by the media. Taming the Beast is a tell all truth about the rise of the self-proclaimed baddest man on the planet and what caused his eventual demise, a book of friendship, betrayal and redemption.

What inspired you to write the book?

In the 90’s the boxing world was rocked by the news of the breakup of Team Tyson who was in the middle of the largest single contract in sports history. To this day, even the most inside commentators and fans can only speculate about what, why and how it happened. Burden with endless accusations from commentators and fans alike, including years of blamed stroked by media frenzy and tarnished reputations; there has never been a clear picture until the day I decided to break my silence.

When and how did you first meet Tyson?

Mike and I met around 1981, our friendship began organically through a mutual friend who just happened to be my younger sibling. Mike had become a regular fixture in and around my home during those years. We’d soon formed a unique bond that spanned over the next 25 years.  

Being friends with Tyson as a teenager in New York must have been eventful, what mischief did you get up to?

Before the pressures of heighten expectations and the glare of the public eye, we had normal teenage years. When Mike wasn’t training, we was always hanging out at the local colleges - chasing girls or hanging out at my family’s corner store (Holloways Grocery) just hanging out with friends in the neighbourhood. Where ever the action was… we were there.    

How did you go from friend to Manager?

That happened organically, even before Mike became the self-proclaimed baddest man on the planet. I always knew there was something special about Mike, even before he himself realized his true potential. I guess I’d seen what the late great Cus D’ Amato had seen in him as a young teenager. As such, I realized at a very early age that being around Mike afforded me the opportunity of being in the presence of the most brilliant minds in business, such as the late great Cus D’ Amato, Jimmy Jacobs, and guys like Bill Cayton and Don King. I’d made a conscious decision to position myself in a manner to one day be an intricate part of Mike’s career and not just his childhood friend. But in order to achieve that level of confidence from Mike himself, I had to learn the business. So I made it my sole business to learn from the best, which prepared me.

It must have been frustrating having someone with a talent like Tyson but who had an inherent destructive nature, how did you cope?

Being Mike’s best friend was both a blessing and a curse, Mike is a very complex individual. Mike’s childhood of growing up in the mean streets of Brooklyn before landing himself in a juvenile detention centre for youths has been well chronicled over the years, which can shed some light on his inherent self-destructive behaviour. My background was in stark contrast to that of Mike Tyson’s, which I believe armed me with the tools to navigate Mike through some tough times both personally and professionally. But more to your question, it took great perseverance, compassion and commitment.    

What was the most challenging thing about managing Tyson?

I would have to say that the most challenging aspect of managing Mike was his compulsive nature; you never knew the challenges that were ahead of us.  My frustrations was compounded by the fact that I found myself having to wear two hats, both as a friend and as Mike’s business manager. This was a balancing act that truly tested our friendship.

What made Tyson the great boxer that he was?

From the first time the late great Cus D’Amato laid eyes on Mike, he immediately knew that Mike had something special. He also knew that Mike had a certain fire burning inside of him. I believe this fire was the result of growing up in an environment that devours the weak and rewards the strong.

What was the highlight of knowing and working with Tyson?

The entire experience is one that I will never forget, yet I am reminded of it every day.  But my most memorable moment was the time Mike first competed for the heavy weight championship at the age of 19 yrs old. He went on to win and became the youngest heavy weight champion in history.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to peruse a similar career?

I think it takes a special kind of individual to deal with fighters as opposed to athletes in other professional sports. I think it is important to understand the responsibilities and sacrifices that go along with this career choice.  

Holloway's book; Taming the Beast: The Untold Story of Mike Tyson will be available from March 2015, you can pre order a copy of the book here.