So, I guess what Im trying to say is Bill was the brains behind the whole operation. Why do I want to pay $50 to see these 2 guys fight? Hes 19-1, with 15 knock-outs. Kevin Lerena explains to Thomas Gerbasi how a call from Frank Warren convinced him to pack his bags Cus died when he was 11-0. Him and Steve Watt are like handling the business. Alright. At the time Tyson was 11-0 as a pro. ESPN does their Friday night shows but they do half a year and then they take off. So, I was educated under the absolute best. I knocked you out. (Laughs). Next question. He just left. (Laughs). It was funny. Rocky had beat everyone. . Rooney had been with Tyson since late 1982, when Tyson was 16 years old and just won the National Junior Olympics (having a 91 amateur record, with all 9 wins inside the distance), oversaw the second half of his amateur career (44 fights), saw the start of his professional career in 1985, followed Tyson throughout his world championship days, until Tyson's bout with Michael Spinks in 1988, when, on the insistence of Don King, Tyson fired Rooney along with all other staff that comprised the Team Tyson from the beginning. Jimmy died, then Mike married Robin. Mike Tyson has weighed in on who he believes will win the bout between Jake Paul and Tommy Fury this weekend. So for anyone who thinks that this is just some stunt, or that he picked up a pair of gloves the other day and said he wanted to be a boxer, they are wrong and are going to be very surprised when you see him in that ring. The women tried to grab all that money and they werent able to do that. We do what we want to do. The untold story of the boxing star knocked out cold by Mike Tyson on a street corner reveals a bizarre consequence of their $25 million feud. This was in the early 80s. Theyd just go in and they were gentlemen about it. "But a trainer for one of the other fighters was getting really upset about this. (Laughs). Q I didnt hear about his death. He was winning the fight and then he got hit and lost the decision. In 1982, when he retired as a fighter, he joined Mike Tyson's training team as his coach. Don King had successfully urged Tyson to break all ties with the D'Amato stable, only his new co-trainer Jay Bright was a disciple of D'Amato, with all other being people from the street. So, Im going down tomorrow. Somewhere it got mixed up. He was a very, very smart mand and an honest man. The best thing about it was these guys couldnt hit him. Real quick. We knew we would great soundbites from Mitch.. When Mike went with Don King and then went with Shelly Finkel, at that point Mike was suing Don King for $125 million dollars. Kevin Rooney: Yes. While he was still successful, those around him revealed that he never actually fully recovered from the loss of D'Amato. on the weekend. Youll frustrate the hell out of the guy whos throwing punches. Thomas Hays is his name. But, Jimmy Jacobs and Bill Cayton had tied all that money up where nobody could touch it, nobody but Mike. Bill fought to make the Spinks fight where he got $21 million dollarsat that point the largest purse that anyone had ever got. Q As long as were talking about money, people will say Mike Tyson earned between $200-$400 million dollars in his career. Then we'd go do bed. No, he was talking about his son, Kevin Rooney Jr., who has toiled in. He knew his fighter well & could read Tyson's unusually negative pre- fight body language. (Laughs). He was barred from going near Tyson for the next 30 days, according to the LA Times. Eventually, it went into the Spinks fight and then for a little bit King was out and then Mike went to Europe with Robin and came back. Although Tyson appeared to be ahead on points on the judges' scorecards through six rounds, he failed to answer the bell for the 7th round and was ruled defeated by technical knockout.. Background. Lets just go back to the basics. Berbeck Tucker. Source: boxinginsider.com Author: Scoop Malinowski Date: 1 august 2011 It's always a pleasure to listen to Kevin Rooney talk about his old charge Mike Tyson, Read More. Thats my philosophy. Q Had Jimmy Jacobs not died, Mikes story wouldve been different wouldnt it? We could make a lot of money. Tyson's mobility skills in the boxing ring, especially his defensive upper-body and head movement, noticeably declined after Rooney's firing, eventually resulting in Tyson suffered his first professional loss in a fight 18 months after Rooney's departure. Note: Due to the NBA playoffs ESPN3.com and ESPN Deportes will start their telecasts LIVEat 8PM, ESPN2 will re-air at 10:30 PM. Rooney participated in the 1975 New York Golden Gloves Championship. I had been working with Mike since 1982. I just brought him down to Kingston last week to spar with these other kids and he sparred with em and right away he said now. Then, I got hit in 1996, 1997, whenever it was, I had to pay $800,000 to the government. Thats what happened in a lot of Mikes fights. This is the United States of America. Hes going across Europe. Its actually easier to become a second or a trainer to get a license. I guess this guy dont want to fight. They were ripping ass. We all go through money. I still run my gym. He was claiming that King had robbed him of $100 million dollars. Bill Cayton was a very honest man, had a lot of integrity. Hes dead now. Merchant said that Tyson needed Rooney much the same way Muhammad Ali needed Angelo Dundee. It wasnt long after his fight with Tyson. All those guys I just mentioned they were gonna put a hurtin on you. (Laughs). People want to see someone get knocked out, lets face it. A I was an ex-professional fighter. He liked to laugh and have a good time. He hopped right over the rope and out of the door. Youve got the boxers, hes got the business know-how. let me put it this way, here in Catskill, Ive had a couple of kids, this one kid that was and excellent, excellent athlete. He used to run numbers. Muhammad dominated. Any fighter in any divisionyou gotta be exciting. Im standing there thinking: What is happening?. Mike Tyson retires, and even the fights on HBO are few and far between. He was just talking a lot and I really thought he was grabbing for my pockets, so I pulled my pockets out because if he ripped my pants all the money would fall and I wouldnt have a chance to get my money so Id have to fight this cat and then my money is to the wolves. He punches harder than Rocky. Unfortunately, Cus D'Amato passed away in 1985 and Kevin Rooney was fired in 1988 (under Don King's influence). Hes fighting for the USBA Middleweight Championship. #6. He used to run numbers. K.C.) 90 seconds. The only person that could, take any money out of Mike Tysons accounts was Mike Tyson. A I gave half to my lawyer, the rest to the government and I had at one time back in 1996, 1997, I had a little money in my back account. I think it was back in the late 90s, early 2000, 2001. It would have been a helluva fight. When Tyson was on there or Riddick Bowe, or Hopkins and Taylorbut now, everythings so spread out. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. A police sergeant said: He [Green] stopped his car in the middle of the street and started yelling - it was completely irrational.. Q And youre right in the middle! Hes fighting guys for like 3 or 4 rounds. He was like Behind-the-scenes where Jimmy was like an Up-Front man. I still run my gym. Jimmy was the up-front man and everything was going good. They made a score. You can buy it for $50. Then he went with King and Kevin Rooney was out and then Mike Tyson took the downfall where he should have stayed with the people that Cus DAmato had put in placeBill Cayton, Jimmy Jacobs, Kevin Rooney and Steve Watt. When Mike Tyson came to this village as a 14-year-old in 1980, not many Catskill citizens paid much attention when they saw him doing early-morning roadwork along gravel roads. Merchant concluded that it was the expulsion of Kevin Rooney, who still rooted for Tyson every time he watched him fight (despite their split), which led to the stunning knockout loss. King has screwed every fighter hes ever been with. But now Marc is freaking out because hes got to go into the ring with Mitch Blood Green who has been cut! Tyson was getting the money once in awhile from Shelly. Former professional boxer turned coach Kevin Rooney is best known for training Mike Tyson for six years during the prime of Tyson's career. But the Mike Tyson that I was training coming off of Cus DAmato I just think that that Mike Tyson would have won. Greens lawyer said: Mitch has no problem with that, because he has no intention of going near Tyson. His job now has him working full-time in it, but this Friday night, Kevin Rooney Jr will experience a whole new side of professional boxing that he hasn't before. There was this one time that this kid came in and I dont really remember where he was from. Youre talking about a kid, 20, 21, 22, against Ali who was 23, 24. People dont recognize Bill cause he was like the Quiet man. Great place to be Kevin! So and so is fighting so and so for a title or title elimination, and this is what is hurting the game. Rooney joined the world of professional boxing in 1979, fighting in 25 professional bouts and winning 21 of them. Q Had Jimmy Jacobs not died, Mikes story wouldve been different wouldnt it? He was just looking to make money, and he was making money with Tyson. Check this out. Mike picked that up right away. During the period when Rooney was Tyson's trainer, Tyson had a professional record of 35 fights, 35 wins (31 wins by KO). So, I guess what Im trying to say is Bill was the brains behind the whole operation. Be exciting. August 29, 2011 6 min read. They never spoke again, and Tyson moved. But, I really dont know whats going to happen. Punches harder than George Foreman.. So and so is fighting so and so for a title or title elimination, and this is what is hurting the game. He was portrayed by Clark Gregg in the 1995 movie Tyson [1] and by Aaron Eckhart in the 2016 movie Bleed for This . You answer it back. But, I believe deep in his heart he knew it wasnt true. Then Mike left Bill Clayton and tried to fire Kevin Rooney. People are going to be talking stuff and whatever. A Comedy Centrals, which is good for boxing. He became a multi-millionaire. He was the first guy to make the most money when he fought Spinks. If you can out point me, good for you. Kevin Rooney . Now, I dont know how long youve been in the fight game, how long youve been interested in it, or how old you are, but back in the 60s, 70s and then in the middle 80s, you would see a fight on t.v. February 27, 2023 endeavor air pilot contract No Comments . He would have had a ton of money. (Laughs). Mike throws combinations. King was a bookmaker. Mitch just suddenly started on Kevin Rooney, saying: Wheres my money? Other boxers jumped between them. He is a smart fighter, and he is very dedicated and disciplined, he trains very hard. and our Kevin Rooney: "None. I had him in with my pro cruiserweight, Nasi Hani. He never dogged it, he never quit. Then Don King stepped into the picture. Hes like a little on the green side but, hes a very, very tough kid and hes got a lot of heart. I have 3 professional fighters. I learned from Cus DAmato. Jimmy was more street-wise then Bill. If you follow what Im sayin, boxing is a hard game and its hard to get a young kid to stick with it is really what it comes down to. He had a son Brian who made his own millions, in computers, back in the early 80s or whenever it was. Kevin Rooney: 1966, 67, 68, in that time frame. You answer it back. But, Bill was an excellent, excellent manager and businessman. I was a 5 time Golden Glove Champion. Im just spinning my wheels, but, Im always looking out. Hes a thief, and he got away with it. He will make his pro-debut on the undercard of Joe DeGuardias Star Boxing ESPN Friday Night Fights card at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT. A I know how to weave and slip. Kevin Rooney was a professional boxer who turned into a trainer. I learned from Cus DAmato. Anybody including Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali. I told Mike, "Let's make Cus' prediction come true of becoming the youngest heavyweight champion." But a trainer for one of the other fighters was getting really upset about this. Recent Kevin Rooney interview about Mike Tyson 10-01-2011, 03:40 PM http://www.tysontalk.com/article720.html Talks a lot about how hard Tyson hit, says he would have been the greatest if he. People would sit down, sit on their couch, have a beer and wanna watch a fight. The Outsider: Opportunity knocks for Kevin Lerena. And then wed go to a health club at night. Move your head. Butthis is now. MikeI believe that Mike is one of the hardest punchers in history. 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