Taming the Beast: The Untold Story of Mike Tyson, Paperback

Mike Tyson is a cultural phenomenon: heavyweight boxing champion, author, movie and television actor, Broadway star, tiger owner, felon, tabloid gossip mainstay. His memoir, "Undisputed Truth," was a New York Times bestseller. While no one is disputing the truth he tells in his book, it is clear that he has not told the entire story. That task goes to his one-time best friend, entourage wrangler, and manager - Rory Holloway, in "Taming the Beast: The Untold Story of Mike Tyson" (written with Eric Wilson), Holloway's memoir of his 15 years with Tyson. The Beast is, no surprise, Tyson himself. When it came to getting the Champ ready for the ring, from his training to deal-making to extricating him from problems and relationships with people like Robin Givens and her gold-digging mother, Don King, and everyone else under the sun, that job fell to Rory Holloway. In "Taming the Beast," Holloway comes clean on all things Tyson, from Mike's sex addiction, to his comically horrible driving, to his wildman approach to life. He breaks down the entourage - who was good for the Champ, who wasn't - and deals with the criticism he faced as Tyson spun more and more out of control. When Tyson spit out Evander Holyfield's ear in 1997, he also spit out his 15-year friendship with Holloway. Compassionate, at times hilarious and terribly sad, "Taming the Beast" is the story of a man so out of touch with reality that he ultimately distanced himself from the only people who had his best interests at heart, severing the brotherhood that once existed, in favor of "yes men" who could supply him with the best drugs and the most hookers. It is a devastating story of watching, helpless, from a ringside seat as your best friend self-destructs and you can't do a thing about it. Painfully frank, street-wise and cathartic, "Taming the Beast" pulls no punches with its question-and-answer style. It is the book every Tyson fan needs on their nightstand for the undisputed whole truth.

About the Author:

RORY HOLLOWAY's name became inextricably linked to Mike Tyson, from his relationship with the former champion dating back to when both were teenagers in upstate New York. Rory is one of Mike's oldest friends and one-time manager of the former Heavyweight Champion. In 1983, Mr. Holloway became one of the original members of Team Tyson and helped guide Mike to becoming the youngest Heavyweight Champion in boxing history, at the age of 19 years old. In 1995, Rory became the official manager of Mike Tyson, in which he participated in the negotiations for the largest [single] contract in in history, totaling $375 million. Rory now resides in Connecticut with his wife of 25 years. ERIC WILSON is a New York Times best-selling author. His debut novel was published in 2004, by Waterbrook Press, a division of Random House. Since then he has had at least one book published each year, including three movie novelizations. During his twenties, he spent extended time in Europe and Asia. In college, he ran cross-country and was named MVP of the basketball team. Eric and his wife operated an espresso business in the Pacific Northwest, but currently reside in Nashville, Tennessee, near their two grown daughters and grandson. Eric is actively pursuing more stories with professional athletes.