You don't need to know about boxing to be aware of the notoriety in which Mike Tyson has been held.

Yet the former world heavyweight champ remains a legend and tickets have been snapped up for his country-wide tour of chat shows, starting in London tomorrow night.

I met him in a small hotel room in London's Park Lane Hilton. Gone were the flashy trappings of the past. Tyson sat on the bed in a T-shirt and jeans, sparking into life as the tape recorder clicked on.

And he revealed: "For 20 years I was one kind of person. Now I don't like that person any more.
All my life I'd been bullied (speaking about his childhood) and then I was able to do something about it.

"I never again had to worry about people beating me up, trying to rip my clothes, I was in control. Ain't that something?

"I was a bad ass and I loved it. I could go anywhere I wanted, into the worst neighbourhoods. I loved it. No-one would f*** with me.

"But now I don't like going into a room in a club and seeing that everybody is afraid of me. And in some cases it is big men."

GL: Mike Tyson recently put out an APB on you. He wants you to help train him for a potential Antonio Tarver fight. Are you willing to work with Mike again? And how do you feel about a Tyson-Tarver fight?

Jeff Fenech: "Well if Mike wants me to walk through the desert with him barefoot I'd do that. If he wants me to help him with Tarver, I would love to do that also. Mike would beat Tarver. This is a totally different fish than Kevin McBride, he's talking a lot. Antonio has done a great job of trying to belittle Mike Tyson so Mike can fight him. Not only do I think he's crazy, I think he's suicidal."

GL: Obviously you feel he's not ready for that Mike Tyson power?

Jeff Fenech: "No mate. And believe me he would feel it right away. If Mike punches him in the neck he might break his back. If Tarver gets in the ring, Mike is certainly going to hurt him."

GL: What was your first reaction when you heard Tarver was calling Tyson out?

JF: "It makes me think, what are these guys trying to do. Tarver's trying to do the best that he can and he realizes he needs Mike if he wants to make big money. But he's putting himself in a postion to get embarrassed. He's said some things that have Mike saying things that aren't in his nature."

GL: I don't know if it wasn't in Mike's nature, but I know he sounded like he wanted to kick Tarver's ass big time.

JF: "And he would mate. There would be so much anger in him that he would be fueled up to make it a simple job. It won't be difficult. This is not a 6 foot 5 inch guy weighing over 240. This is somebody who'll be lucky to survive the first round with Mike."

Joe Egan is one of the most beloved characters of the boxing community - everyone knows his story and is supportive of him.

Big Joe has an incredible story to tell of his career, that ended 12 years ago, and how he made his boxing comeback with the help of close friend Mike Tyson.

To celebrate the release of his long-awaited biography, with a foreword by Mike Tyson, 'The Toughest White Man on the Planet' will be attending a special book-signing session at Canary Wharf.

The event is on Thursday 17 November and takes place between midday and 2pm.

As a real bonus for sports fans, Tyson and other ex-boxers Barry McGuigan, Frank Bruno, Nigel Rafferty, Alan Minter, Steve Collins, Charlie Magri, Gary Mason and Paul 'Silky' Jones will also be in attendance on the day.

It is the first UK bookshop appearance by Tyson ever and is at Books Etc - telephone number 0207 7190688.

All the public are welcome to attend so pencil in the date for your diary.

As result of Vitali Klitschkos retirement Don King now promotes all major heavyweight belts and is planning an unification tournament which will result in one undisputed heavyweight champion (similar to the 1986 box-off that produced the youngest heavyweight champion in history Mike Tyson). In an interview with SecondsOut Don King said he will be inviting aged legends Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield to enter his tourney.

"I am interested in working with Mike again," King said. "Provided that he does the proper things in training. He's had some bad losses of late but there's no reason Mike Tyson cannot win the heavyweight title again. He is only 39, George Foreman, a man who has similar punching power, won the title back at age 45. If Mike can dedicate himself to training again and can (promise me) that he is able to do that then yes, I will give him a chance to create history all over again."