Author’s Note

Thank you for your interest in Gut Check's first downloadable audio book. Facing Tyson: Fifteen Fighters, Fifteen Stories, was my first book, published in 2006 by The Lyons Press, and published internationally by Mainstream Publishing in 2007. To this day, it is my favorite book. It has been said that boxers are the best interviews in sports, and I wholeheartedly agree. I conducted interviews in cars, in locker rooms, on seedy streetcorners, in boxing gyms, and at ringside. I feared for my life more than once. I made friends with the boxers. I care about all of them, and wanted to honor them through these stories. Their unique perspectives paint a different picture of Mike Tyson than any painted before.

That said, the text is raw, gritty, and honest (read: there's some profanity, and even a couple of f-bombs). If you're sqeamish about this, I don't blame you— I am too. But I wanted to maintain the authenticity of the work as much as possible. These guys are all great communicators. Enjoy their stories.

Special thanks to William Colin at WAC Productions, for all of his hard work mastering and perfecting the finished product, and Zachary Bartels at Gut Check Studios for his technical expertise.

Best,
Ted A. Kluck