Cus D’Amato trained Mike Tyson like his own son but died before he became youngest heavyweight champion

Cus D’Amato helped transform Mike Tyson from a troubled teenager into one of boxing’s most feared fighters. The legendary trainer took Tyson under his wing, welcomed him into his home and eventually became his legal guardian. But in a tragic end, D’Amato died in 1985, a year before Tyson became the youngest world heavyweight champion at the age of 20. Tyson revealed his relationship with his mentor feature in the recently released Netflix docuseries TYSON, which explores different aspects of the former heavyweight champion’s life. Reflecting on D’Amato’s influence, Tyson said in the docuseries, “He cleaned a dirty mind and he made it better.”

Born in New York in 1908 to Italian parents, D’Amato grew up with five brothers and frequently engaged in street fights, according to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

At 22, he opened the Empire Sporting Club in Manhattan, where he trained several young fighters, including Rocky Graziano, who later became a middleweight champion. D’Amato also guided Floyd Patterson, helping him win a middleweight gold medal at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. Patterson later became the youngest heavyweight champion at the time.

D’Amato eventually settled in Catskill, New York, where he established the Catskill Boxing Club. He focused on training young fighters, particularly those facing difficult circumstances. Along with his longtime partner, Camille Ewald, he also opened his home to young men who needed support.

“I’m interested in young kids,” D’Amato told The New York Times in November 1984. “I want to get them off the street.”

He believed boxing could help young men build confidence and learn to protect themselves. D’Amato also developed the defensive boxing technique known as 'peek-a-boo', which relies on head movement, quick punches and a high guard to help fighters challenge taller opponents.

Tyson had a troubled childhood and was repeatedly involved with law enforcement. By the age of 13, he had been arrested 38 times for theft, according to the Los Angeles Times. In 1979, he was sent to the Tryon School for Boys in Johnstown, New York.

There, he met Bobby Stewart, a counsellor and former amateur boxing champion who recognised his potential. Stewart agreed to train him after Tyson promised to improve his behaviour and grades.

“I changed my whole life. I wanted to learn how to box so bad,” Tyson recalled in the docuseries. “I took to it right away. It was meant for me to do.”

After training Tyson for several months, Stewart arranged a meeting with D’Amato, who welcomed the teenager into his Catskill home and began developing his boxing skills.

Following his mother’s death in 1982, D’Amato became Tyson’s legal guardian. The two spent hours studying old fights and training, with D’Amato helping the young boxer develop discipline and confidence.

Tyson won heavyweight gold medals at the Junior Olympics in 1981 and 1982. He later described his mentor as a master. “This was a Roman emperor I’m dealing with,” Tyson said in the docuseries. “I’m dealing with a master.”

D’Amato fell ill after Tyson’s ninth professional fight in 1985. Tyson later recalled that his mentor had kept his illness private. The trainer died of pneumonia on November 4, 1985, aged 77, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Before his death, Tyson reportedly told D’Amato that he no longer wanted to box. His mentor urged him to continue, telling him, “If you don’t, I’ll haunt you,” and adding, “Be a champ.”

A year later, Tyson went on to win the WBC heavyweight title on November 22, 1986, defeating Trevor Berbick. He was 20 years and four months old at that time, becoming the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history.

However, D’Amato’s death left Tyson feeling empty. He later said that losing his mentor also exposed him to people who wanted to exploit his success. Tyson subsequently sued former promoter Don King in a breach-of-trust case, which was settled for $14 million, according to The New York Times.

The Boxing Writers Association of America established the Cus D’Amato Memorial Award in his honour and honored Tyson with the inaugural award in 1986.