Boxer Mike Tyson is showing his new proposal to five publishers this week, unveiling a manuscript he recited to his cellmate in prison.

The NY Post compared Tyson’s secretive book-shopping style to the sale of Kurt Cobain‘s notebooks–which ultimately landed a $4 million deal for the late singer’s writings. One insider painted an odd, literary portrait of Tyson’s writing process. Like Jean Genet, the boxer found his literary leanings in prison.

The anonymous editor quoted Tyson about his writing process: “One night I would read out loud to him, the next night he would read out loud to me. And we would do that back and forth until the book was completed.” (Via HuffPo, photo via.)