NEWARK, N.J. — Mike Tyson was the perfect speaker to deliver the keynote speech at Newark Drug Court Graduation on Monday, July 15, 2013 as he spoke to a packed auditorium at the Mary Burch Theater in Essex County College about how drugs have knocked him down time and again. Tyson’s candid speaking style kept the graduates laughing and applauding, but his words also carried the more serious message of what he had lost to his addiction.
Photo shows Mike Tyson speaking at Newark Drug Court Graduation on July 15, 2013.
Tyson, whose appearance was kept secret from the participants in the program, told the suprised graduates, “The fight’s not over. You think you graduate and it’s over? You come back. You won this round but you’re gonna struggle with it until the day you die. Relapse is part of recovery.” “I’m really proud of these graduates right here because now this is the first time in all your life you can start fresh,” he said. “To overcome this adversity, we all came out looking like wounded warriors, but we won.”
The former heavyweight champion spoke about his troubled childhood, his mother’s addiction to drugs and his own struggle. Later, in an interview, he said that despite being sober for four years, he was tempted all the time.
The Essex County program has 600 participants, including 159 who joined this year In addition to treatment and rehabilitation, participants must also earn their GED, maintain a job and show they are paying off any bills or any outstanding child support.
Mike Tyson is the former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight titles at 20 years old. If you would like to book motivational sports speakers or athletes like Mike Tyson for a speaking engagement, guest appearance, product endorsement, charity fundraiser or special event, contact Mike Tyson booking agent for speaker & appearance fees or call 800.966.1380.
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