Before Dale Hausner became known as one-half of the “Serial Shooters” who terrorized Phoenix with a deadly summer-long killing spree, he did something almost unthinkable — he sat across from Mike Tyson with a microphone in hand and asked him about boxing.

In this episode, Amy Kaplan unpacks the disturbing true story of how a serial killer posed as a sports journalist to get close to one of the most iconic fighters in history. Just days after their eerie encounter, Tyson’s gym was surrounded by SWAT, and the former champ was shown a photo of the man he’d unknowingly welcomed into his inner circle.

Who was Dale Hausner before the headlines—and how did he end up face-to-face with Iron Mike?

This is Shadowboxing. Where fight culture meets true crime.

SOURCES:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=0BofPug6HLw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7x1YuKZFC0

https://www.12news.com/article/news/crime/15-years-later-former-phoenix-police-detective-describes-serial-shooters/75-a2d4cfc3-a58e-4725-814f-cf21696dd235

https://criminalminds.fandom.com/wiki/Dale_Hausner_and_Samuel_Dieteman

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-arizona-serialshooter-idUSBRE95I1QW20130619/?feedName=OutloudFeed&feedType=RSS

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CuxqGtkv0S2/

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/dale-hausner-samuel-dieteman-did-103035288.html

In episode 3 of Shadowboxing: True Crime in Combat Sports, I address how a former UFC fighter and former Green Beret found himself at the center of a stolen‑valor scandal. I'll explain where the claims stem from, what could happen if Kennedy is found guilty, and why this is such a big deal to the MMA and military communities.

SOURCES:

SOURCES:

https://sports.yahoo.com/mma/article/ufc-vet-tim-kennedy-reportedly-under-investigation-after-admitting-to-lying-about-military-service-record-181117808.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Kennedy_(fighter)

https://x.com/TimKennedyMMA/status/1942787440722248111

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/07/10/tim-kennedy-green-beret-and-army-hype-man-under-investigation-lying-about-combat-valor.html

https://americanwarriorshow.libsyn.com/tim-kennedy-special-operations-warriorprofessional-fighter

https://www.instagram.com/p/DEgl2Ljx44i/

In this episode of Shadowboxing: True Crime in Combat Sports, we explore the tragic story of Mylik Birdsong — a promising young boxer whose dreams were derailed by a deadly act of violence. What led to the fatal shooting outside of his mother's Los Angeles home? And will his killers ever be brought to justice?

We also bring you the latest developments in the ongoing legal saga of former UFC champion Jon Jones.

SOURCES:

https://www.mmafighting.com/2025/7/10/24465374/jon-jones-hit-new-charge-duplicate-charge-related-car-accident-in-february-attorney-files-to-dismiss

https://people.com/welterweight-boxing-champion-mylik-birdsong-dies-los-angeles-drive-by-shooting-8720799

https://ktla.com/news/local-news/shooting-leaves-pro-boxer-dead-in-south-los-angeles/

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/275214546/mylik-birdsong