Review: 'Mike' Re-creates the Life Story of the Controversial Boxer

Hurt people hurt people. That's the premise behind Steven Rogers' new Hulu docudrama "Mike" (trigger warning for all types of violence). The series re-creates the awful childhood and troubled rise of heavyweight champion boxer Mike Tyson, superbly played by Trevante Rhodes (who also narrates and takes asides to camera). He captures the fighter's signature high-pitched lisp and uncomfortable gait without parody, and with humanity (the youthful actors who play childhood Mike are also excellent and sympathetic).

That's the conundrum of this lively reenactment: Are audiences meant to empathize with Iron Mike, or just understand that a child raised without love or resources might just carry that abuse into his adult life? W. Kamau Bell's must-see series "We Need to Talk About Cosby" (currently streaming for free on Showtime's YouTube channel) straddles the line between Cosby's undeniable importance as a Black cultural leader and his simultaneous sociopathic, decades-long predatory behavior. Ava DuVernay's "Colin in Black and White" on Netflix explores another kid of color, Colin Kaepernick, who faces racism yet still becomes a star athlete and activist.

But Tyson's story is not redemptive. He used his childhood trauma to heap pain on others. Employing the format frame of modern Mike performing a one-man show (which he's done in real life), each 30-minute episode re-creates a section of his life. The first episode portrays the Brooklyn-born kid as constantly bullied, the reason he left school in second grade to burgle homes. Tyson's first arrest was at age 10. His single mother (riveting performance by Olunike Adeliyi) had three kids, and was also abused by her boyfriends.

"Beating was normal," Tyson says. His doctor thought he was retarded, and he saw several friends shot and killed. He started living in group homes, then he was sent to prison.

While incarcerated, Tyson found boxing, and started working with legendary trainer Cus D'Amato (Harvey Keitel), who not only turned Mike pro at age 18 but also adopted him (with his struggling mom's permission). Tyson fought every two weeks and scored lots of knockouts with his ferocious punches and angry demeanor.

"I'm well-trained, but they call me a savage," he notes. The show's fight choreography is masterful, utilizing close-ups, slow-motion, and blood packs to capture the brutality of pugilism.

Tyson brought that brutalism into his relationships, spending time with numerous groupies and sex workers before, during and after his brief marriage to actress Robin Givens (Laura Harrier). He says, "I don't know how to fight to lose, only to win." Tyson felt humiliated that "Robin beat me in front of national audience." He started working with shady, bombastic fight promoter Don King (Russell Hornsby), who "spoke like a preacher and fought like a grandmaster."

Then, Tyson raped Miss Black Rhode Island Desiree Washington (Li Eubanks) and went to jail for it. Extreme downs always followed the fighter's ups. Yet, face-tattooed Tyson is still around, and this series provokes the question, "How do we feel about that?"

"Mike" premieres Aug. 26 on Hulu.