(SEPT 18) Since the
much-anticipated launching of Iron Mike Productions last month,
Hall of Famer and living legend "Iron" Mike Tyson has had a
string of major media appearances, granting interviews to Fox
Sports Live, Extra, the Today Show, and Conan O'Brien, where he
spoke about his upcoming show, "Being Mike Tyson," as well as
the current state of boxing. His recent return to the ring as a
boxing promoter with Iron Mike Productions has also given him a
lot to talk about, like the National Football League and which
teams he believes are heading to the Super Bowl.
Most boxing fans also enjoy
watching football because of the inherent action and physicality
of the two sports. They may remember the stencil art done by
artist Joe Lurato a few years back of Peyton Manning and Tom
Brady for a segment titled, "Quarterbacks of the Decade."
Lurato's artwork has been featured on NFL broadcasts and Tyson
has kept his eyes out for it because, in addition to being
passionate about sports, Mike and his Iron Mike Productions
business partner, Garry Jonas, are also passionate about art.
"Not only is this unique artwork beautiful," Tyson said, "it is
also inspirational for our fighters as they train in the Iron
Mike gym. Our goal is to give all our fighters everything they
need to be their very best, physically and mentally, and this
serves as another example of Iron Mike Productions' commitment
to excellence on their behalf."
Tyson and Jonas, CEO of Iron Mike Productions, immediately
thought of Lurato when they were building their state-of-the-art
training facility in Deerfield Beach, Florida. They commissioned
both Lurato and fellow New York stencil artist, Logan Hicks, to
create amazing, larger-than life wall murals to inspire and
provoke their fighters, capturing the range of emotions that
happen inside the ring.
"The photo-realistic images have
depth and move with the eye," Jonas explained. "They follow the
fighters throughout the space, inspiring them and reminding them
of why they are here and what they are training for."
Using layers of hand-cut paper, spray paint and stencils, both
artists worked round-the-clock over one weekend to create an
energized series of mixed-medium murals that echo the raw
dynamism of the Iron Mike gym and capture the hope, struggle and
desire that are at the heart of every fighter here.
The artists deliberately incorporated elements of urban street
art to make the murals both visceral and refined to directly
reflect the raw, gritty talent each of the fighters started with
as they work to refine their skills and transform themselves
into champions.
Lurato's work has also been featured on ESPN as part of the "Art
of Basketball" project, created by Billi Kid and Public Works
Department, an organization that promotes street and graffiti
artists and their work. Licensed by the NBA, the organization
features a growing collection of NBA-themed original street
artwork that tours the country. Lurato's contribution focused on
the 2012 championship-winning Miami Heat.
To learn more about Joe Lurato and Logan Hicks, check out their
work at joeiurato.com and loganhicks.com.
Iron Mike Productions, previously Acquinity Sports, is a boxing
promotion company co-founded and led by CEO Garry Jonas. It is a
partnership with Hall of Famer Mike Tyson committed to changing
traditional boxing promotion by advocating for its fighters'
successes inside the ring and out, throughout their professional
careers and into retirement.