Mike Tyson: The Undisputed Truth

Mike Tyson is delivering a one, two punch on Broadway with his new one-man play, "Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth."

The former boxing champion officially opened his show on Thursday and called the opening night experience daunting.

[Mike Tyson, Boxer]:
"I've never dealt with acting at that degree, so it was pretty intimidating, but I was just willing to be a happy participant.”

Famed film director Spike Lee is making his Broadway debut with the production, and said working with Mike took their friendship to a new level.

[Spike Lee, Director]:
"Mike and I have known each other since 86 but we've never spent as much time together as we have - this past 3 weeks have been very intimate, I bet he's learned things about me and I've learned about him that we didn't know. But I just think it's a great story.”

Tyson, who in 1986 became the youngest world heavyweight champion at age 20, speaks openly about his life in the show, discussing his childhood, drug addiction and also his eventful boxing career.

Backstage after the show he says some topics are still difficult to relive.

[Mike Tyson, Boxer]:
"You know certain things I won't say, you know, certain things I know not to ad lib and stuff. Right now if you told me - if I start talking about something I couldn't do it, I wouldn't be able to do it, I'll probably start sniffling up. But on stage I know there is a job to be done and even know it's real it's not real, it's an illusion.”

The red carpet was packed with celebrities from the sports world, and longtime Tyson fans like Donald Trump, Tony Danza, and television host Gayle King.

[Gayle King, Television Host]:
"The first time I meet him in person I was surprised that he is so gentle, I'm surprised that he is so gentle because he gets in the ring and he turns into a totally different person. And you know, he has had some knocks in his life, he's done some things in his life that I know he's not proud of, but I'm really, really curious to see how he tells his story tonight.”

[Derek Jeter, Baseball Player]:
"It will be interesting - you know Spike invited me to it a few weeks ago and as soon as Spike asked I said it would be my pleasure to come here. And I know a lot of people have been talking about it - a lot of people looking forward to it. I'm real interested to see how Mike does."

Tyson was undisputed world heavyweight boxing champion in the 1980s but in 1992 he was convicted of raping teenage beauty queen Desiree Washington in Indiana and served three years in prison.

He added to his notoriety later in the decade when he bit rival Evander Holyfield on both ears in a 1997 bout, for which he was disqualified and temporarily suspended from boxing.

Tyson declared bankruptcy in 2003 and retired from professional boxing in 2006.

Since his retirement from boxing, Tyson has appeared in the TV shows "Entourage" and "Brothers" and had a cameo role in the 2009 hit comedy movie "The Hangover."

"Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth" will run for only 12 shows, ending on Sunday, August 12.