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  • Iron Ambition

  • My Life with Cus D'Amato
  • Written by: Mike Tyson
  • Narrated by: Adam Lazarre-White
  • Length: 19 hrs
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (34 ratings)

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Iron Ambition cover art

Iron Ambition

Written by: Mike Tyson
Narrated by: Adam Lazarre-White
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Publisher's Summary

From the former heavyweight champion and New York Times best-selling memoirist comes an intimate look at the life and leadership lessons of Cus D'Amato, the legendary boxing trainer and Mike Tyson's surrogate father.

When Cus D'Amato first saw 13-year-old Mike Tyson spar in the ring, he proclaimed, "That's the heavyweight champion of the world." D'Amato, who had previously managed the careers of world champions Floyd Patterson and José Torres, would go on to train the young Tyson and raise him as a son. D'Amato died a year before Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion in history.

In Tyson's best-selling memoir Undisputed Truth, he recounted the role D'Amato played in his formative years, adopting him at age 16 after his mother died and shaping him both physically and mentally after Tyson had spent years living in fear and poverty. In Iron Ambition, Tyson elaborates on the life lessons that D'Amato passed down to him and reflects on how the trainer's words of wisdom continue to resonate with him outside the ring. The book also chronicles Cus' courageous fight against the mobsters who controlled boxing, revealing more than we've ever known about this singular cultural figure.

©2017 Mike Tyson (P)2017 Penguin Audio

What the critics say

“In this tender and disturbing hybrid of memoir and biography, former heavyweight boxing champion Tyson examines one of the most unusual characters in boxing history…. Tyson’s love for Cus D’Amato is more than apparent, but it doesn’t lead him to downplay his teacher’s myriad faults.” (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

"The boxing champion, infamous for biting and beating, reveals his soft side in this memoir of his longtime mentor and trainer.... [Tyson] writes respectfully and affectionately [about Constantine 'Cus' D'Amato], though some of the old toughness hangs on.... A belated but welcome homage to a boxing legend who died shortly before Tyson's career took off. Fans of the sweet science will want to have a look." (Kirkus Reviews)

What listeners say about Iron Ambition

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Another Tyson KO

This was a great book. Made me feel as though I in some way, could relate to Tyson. Very well written and the narration was impeccable. The delivery was ferocious.

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10/10

This is an amazing story. Especially as a combats sports competitor. There was so many great insights, I will take with me to training and competitions.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

interesting for sure but convoluted.

Mike's time with Cus was my favorite part of Undisputed Truth so when I heard he'd released a second book just about Cus I was quite excited. while I really enjoyed it initially I kind of got lost following the history of his battle against the IBC and his time with Patterson. just introduced a lot of characters and felt like it jumped around a lot.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good, but most of content is on Cus’s background

Interesting info, but beginning and end focus on Mike Tyson, the other 60-70% is on context for Cus and history of boxing.

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This book is not about Mike Tyson

This was a terribly long and unappealing read, I skipped through most of the book.
This book is not about Mike Tyson. It’s about Cus and his garage with the IBC in the 60s, way before mike Tyson was even born. I it’s just a bunch of dates details and uninteresting events so long and boring. Do not waste your time.

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