Directed by Uli Edel and written by Robert Johnson, it stars Michael Jai White as Tyson alongside George C. Scott as Cus D'Amato and Paul Winfield as Don King.

The film is an adaptation of the 1989 biography Fire and Fear: The Inside Story of Iron Mike Tyson by José Torres, a former boxer and former chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission, and depicts events from Tyson's troubled childhood in Brooklyn through his conviction in 1992 for the rape of beauty pageant contestant Desiree Washington.

Manager and trainer Cus D'Amato begins turning the young Tyson into an undefeated fighter.

D'Amato surrounds Tyson with boxing managers Jimmy Jacobs, Bill Cayton, and trainer Kevin Rooney to help rebuild the boxer's life.

In 1986, Tyson takes part in the match against Trevor Berbick in Las Vegas at the World Boxing Council heavyweight championship.

During a television interview with Barbara Walters, Robin unintentionally embarrasses Tyson with his mental health issues.

He is convicted of rape and criminally deviant conduct, and sentenced to six years in prison, which is served at the Indiana Youth Center.

Tyson was nominated for the 1996 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special.