Tyson and D'Amato

Tyson and D'Amato began their relationship after the rebellious Tyson was sent to reform school in upstate New York and was introduced to D'Amato by one of the staff members at the reform school. By this time D'Amato was running a gym in Catskill, New York( The gym still exists. This is the link to its website:http://www.catskillboxinggym.com/#/welcome/4530643893) . Before he met Cus he had had no formal boxing training. At the age of 16, Tyson's mother died and D'Amato became Tyson's legal guardian. Tyson, along with other aspiring fighters, all lived together with D'Amato. Tyson's gifted natural ability along with D'amato's tutelage in the peek-a- boo style helped Tyson to quickly rise in the ranks and win the heavy weight championship of the world in 1986 at age 20. Tyson had become the youngest heavy weight champion ever.

Cus would not live to see his last great fighter capture the title, having passed away in 1985. Many say that the death of D'Amato eventually led Tyson to the destructive path that would end his career. D'Amato was the only role model and father figure that Tyson ever had. The picture at the top of this entry shows the love that Tyson had for D'Amato. D'Amato's tutelage transformed Tyson into one of the best fighters in the world. Its just too bad that his death led Tyson down the path that it did. Here is a link to Tyson training with D'Amato. Notice the slipping and rapid combinations of the peek-a-boo style. Tyson could throw a four punch combination in under a second. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QAcB2GhFns

This in a link to another video highlighting Tyson's boxing career as well as showing some photos and video of him and Cus.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63BNA4Bnx5I