“On September 7th 1996, there was more bloodshed outside of the ring than inside of it.”
In the latest of ESPN’s 30 for 30 series, director Reggie Bythewood chronicles the story of Tupac Shakur and Mike Tyson‘s little-explored friendship, and the night Shakur was shot. Aired yesterday, exactly 14 years after the fateful boxing match and shooting that resulted in Tupac’s death.
On the evening of Sept. 7, 1996, Mike Tyson, the WBC heavyweight champion, attempted to take Bruce Seldon’s WBA title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. At this point in his career, Tyson’s fights had become somewhat of a cultural phenomenon, where the ever present hype of the professional boxing scene would come face to face with the worlds of big business, Hollywood, and hip hop. Sitting ringside was controversial rapper Tupac Shakur. Shakur and Tyson were friends, a feeling of kinship linked them as each rose to stardom from poverty only to be thrown in prison. Following Tyson’s victory, Shakur and “Iron Mike” were to celebrate at an after party, but the rap star never arrived. Shakur was brutally gunned down later that night, and the scene in Las Vegas quickly turned from would-be celebratory revelry to ill fated and inopportune tragedy.
Watch the full episode now:
