Mike Tyson To Star In Sitcom Based On His Marijuana Business

Tyson stars in the series along with his real-life bodyguard and comedian Russell Peters who'll play Tyson's "useless best friend."

Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson has begun production on a television sitcom based on his new career in the cannabis industry.

Tyson will star as a retired boxer who grows marijuana in Rolling with the Punches, which is filming at Tyson Ranch in El Segundo, California.

The series, which the boxer compared to Curb Your Enthusiasm, echoes Tyson's own interest in cannabis cultivation and technology, which he plans to oversee from his 40-acre Tyson Ranch.

Tyson's business partner, film producer and entrepreneur Rob Hickman, said that a demo reel has been delivered to the major networks. The series is expected to air within five months.

Tyson stars alongside his real-life bodyguard, Chuck Zito—himself an actor on Oz and Sons of Anarchy—and comedian Russell Peters as Tyson's "useless best friend." According to the New York Post, the series will also feature Tyson Ranch merchandise.

"It's simple. I'm playing a retired boxer who is growing marijuana," said Tyson. "It's basically me acting like me, so people can get a look at what my life could be like in different scenarios."

Tyson, who said that he is a both a proponent for medical cannabis and a frequent user—"I smoke it all day, every day," he told the New York Post—has been making inroads into the cannabis industry in recent years.

A groundbreaking ceremony for Tyson Ranch, which is located about 60 miles southwest of Death Valley National Park, took place in late 2017.

The property—which is operated by Tyson Holistic, a company staffed largely by military veterans—would serve as both a resort and cultivation facility, with areas designated for growing cannabis and learning about the industry, as well as a hydroponic feed and supply store and edibles factory.

Additionally, cabins, camping grounds and an amphitheater will accommodate tourists. Tyson and his partners envision the ranch as a means of giving back to the region through the creation of new jobs.

Tyson Ranch will also serve as one part of a larger brand that will be devoted to cannabis culture and business; High Times reported that an entity called "Iron Mike Genetics" was trademarked for the ranch's branding and marketing prospects.