Netflix has announced that its newest sports series will take an unflinching look at the life of legendary boxer and cultural icon Mike Tyson.
Known as the youngest heavyweight champion in history (at the age of 20 in 1986), Tyson’s legacy extends far beyond the ropes of the boxing ring, cementing him as one of the most compelling and polarizing figures in recent times, the streamer said in a statement.
From his meteoric rise as the “Baddest Man on the Planet” to his personal struggles — including a period of incarceration and widely publicized struggles (finances, substance abuse, in-ring controversies, etc.) — and eventual redemption, this series will explore the man behind the gloves.
The show will be produced by EverWonder Studio, DLP Media Group, and Five All In The Fifth with Ian Orefice of EverWonder Studio, Jim Gray of Scratchy Productions, Michael Hughes and Greg C. Lake of DLP Media Group and Douglas Banker of Five All In The Fifthacting as executive producers.
Director and an executive producer Floyd Russ said, “Having an opportunity to share my story through the reflective lens of my growth and maturity in a multi-part documentary on Netflix will be a challenging journey, yet a very welcoming one,”
According to Tyson, “Most people are too scared to look at their lives objectively, wanting to paint themselves as the hero of their own story. But if we are truly objective, we know we can never be the hero in our own story. We have to be able to face the man in the mirror, taking the good with the bad to give a full account of our contributions in this life. Netflix is the perfect platform to tell my story because of their global reach.”
This Netflix show, as claimed by the streamer, comes fresh off the heels of the record-breaking mega-event Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson, which became the most-streamed global sporting event of all time, further showcasing Tyson’s enduring appeal across generations.
In recent times, Netflix has not only been upping its sports series (in the past it has showcased the likes of ‘Enigma: Aaron Rodgers’, ‘Simone Biles Rising’, ‘Quarterback’, ‘Sprint’, ‘Formula 1: Drive To Survive’, etc.), but also leaning into live sports like the recent Tyson-Paul match and the earlier Netflix golf tourney, and has partnered with sports leagues, including Formula 1, National Football League (NFL), the National Basketball Association (NBA), the PGA TOUR, Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), Fédération internationale de football association (FIFA), World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and more.