Mike Tyson: “One Night in Vegas”

New film premieres on ESPN Tuesday!

I hope everyone’s having a great long Labor Day weekend and taking a break from work! If you’re reading this then you’re not taking a break from boxing…and if you love the sport like I do, be sure to check out a new Mike Tyson documentary premiering Tuesday night on ESPN.

“One Night in Vegas” will be showcased in the network’s documentary series “30 for 30,” films from 30 various filmmakers telling stories from the sports world in a three-decade period from 1979-2009. I have seen several of their past “30 for 30” installments and they have been first-class productions, so I am really looking forward to seeing this new one on Tyson–and rapper Tupac Shakur.

And what more can be possibly said about “Iron” Mike you may be thinking? And what was his association with the infamous rap superstar?

With his little boy lisp clashing with his seemingly-manic personality, a lot has already been said about the former heavyweight champ of the world who was once invincible in the ring.

Tyson is compelling and controversial. Tough and tragic. Shameless and shameful.

He was the force in boxing who fell from grace time and time again. In this new documentary that I will be definitely tuning into, it’s a look back of the one fateful night when the music industry and the boxing world collided–culminating in the shocking death of Tupac Shakur.

Did you know the two were friends?

Exactly fourteen years ago, on September 7, 1996, Tyson, the reigning WBC Heavyweight Champ at the time, squared off against WBA titlist Bruce Seldon at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. It was a scheduled twelve rounder. Tyson, in his signature black trunks, black shoes, steely glare and that the sinewy stocky build, made quick work of the evening. With that power and devastation he once held in the ring, the slugger would score a TKO against Seldon in the opening round at just one minute and 49 seconds.

It’s what happened after this fight in Vegas that the story unfolds. In this hour-long film directed by Reggie Rock Bythewood, the show explores the friendship between the fighter and rapper and the shooting death of Shakur as he was leaving the Tyson bout and heading to a post-fight party. After taking in the action at ringside, the best-selling rap star was gunned down as he was riding in a car with Suge Knight. The singer and actor died six days later from his injuries–at just 25 years old.

Much has been written since Shakur’s death and I can’t wait to see what this new Mike Tyson angle will uncover. Perhaps some new answers to more than a decade of questions may be finally unearthed during “One Night in Vegas”?

One thing is for sure. Controversy and drama followed both men, and controversy and infamy continue to hover around the Brooklyn-born boxer and the late rap icon from East Harlem.

Massive success found each of them: Tyson amassed fame and fortune during his 50-6 and 44 KO record and 2Pac had a string of hit songs including “California Love,” “To Live & Die in L.A.” and “Me Against the World.” Strong sales continue for Shakur, even after his death. And obviously, both men were no angels and were bonded by their controversies. Both had notorious brushes with the law and both had that strong link to mayhem and violence. And both have been vilified and glorified by fans and in the press worldwide. Their stories and legacies, however controversial, will never fade away.

I am very curious to see how they are portrayed in this new film that promises to explore Tyson and Tupac’s tragic friendship.

If you are curious too, here is the schedule for the ESPN “30 for 30” broadcast of “One Night in Vegas.”

And if you watch the documentary, let me know what you think!

The new film premieres on ESPN 2 Tuesday night, September 7 at 8:00 p.m. (ET)/ 5:00 (PT) and also 11:00 p.m. (ET)/ 8:00 p.m. (PT). Future broadcasts are scheduled for Thursday, September 9 at 10:00 p.m. (ET) on ESPN Classic and Thursday, September 30 at 9:00 p.m. (ET) on ESPN 2.