Constantine `` Cus '' D'Amato ( January 17 , 1908 â `` November 4 , 1985 ) was an American boxing trainer . He trained two of boxing heavyweight champions , Mike Tyson and Floyd Patterson . Constantine `` Cus '' D'Amato ( January 17 , 1908 -- November 4 , 1985 ) was an American boxing manager and trainer who handled the careers of Floyd Patterson , JosÃ Torres , and Mike Tyson .