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- At age 20, he was the youngest ever Heavyweight Champion
- First Man to hold the WBC, WBA and IBF belts at the same time
- Served six years in prison
- Left the ring in 2015, but his legacy lives
The ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’ became the youngest boxer (at 20) in history to capture the Heavyweight title after he defeated Trevor Berbick in 1986.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Tyson’s early childhood was torrid and difficult. Tyson’s mother died when he was 16 years old, leaving him in the hands of Cus D’Amato, a boxing trainer and manager, as his legal guardian.
By the time he was 13, Tyson had been arrested 38 times for different petty crimes as well as fighting other boys that mocked his high-pitched voice and lisp.
His neighborhood witnessed high crime rates and this took a toll on the young Tyson.
While serving time at a juvenile detention, a juvenile counselor and former boxer noticed a ‘special ruthlessness’ in how Tyson fought. He would begin training before while at the facility and thus began the tale of the young fighter.
Junior Olympic Games
As an amateur and under the tutelage of D’Amato, Tyson won gold medals at the 1981 and 1982 Junior Olympic Games after beating Joe Cortez and Kelton Brown respectively. Kelton’s corner threw in the towel in the first round.
Going professional
In his professional debut fight in 1985, Tyson defeated Mercedes Hector via a first round TKO. In his first 28 fights, Tyson won 26 of his first 28 fights by KO or TKO; 16 of those ending in the first round.
The path to greatness was beginning to shape and the young fighter. Tyson was invincible. However, his trainer and ‘father’ D’Amato passed away in November 1985. This was a major blow to the young Tyson – D’Amato’s death was a ‘far-beginning’ to Tyson’s fall.
On the road to becoming Champion, Tyson faced Marvis Frazier, a former world title challenger. At the strike of the bell in round one, Tyson charged at Frazier and hit him with an uppercut that sent Frazier to the canvas – 30 seconds into the fight.
Becoming World Heavyweight Champion
Tyson got his first shot at the title against Trevor Berbick for the World Boxing Council (WBC) Heavyweight Championship. In the second round, Tyson won the title via a TKO and at the age of 20 years, he became the youngest heavyweight champion in history.
Becoming Undisputed Unified Champion
Tyson faced James Smith in March 1987. He won the fight via unanimous decision and took the World Boxing Association (WBA) title.
In August, he beat Tony Tucker via unanimous decision for the International Boxing Federation title.
Tyson became the first heavyweight fighter to own all the three major titles – WBC, WBA and IBF at the same time.
In June 1988, Tyson faced Michael Spinks. At the time, this was the richest fight in boxing history. Boxing fans were looking ahead to this iconic clash between two titans who were masters of their fighting skill – Tyson’s aggressive infighting against Spink’s skillful out-boxing and footwork. The fight lasted 90 seconds when Tyson knocked Spinks out in the first round.
First Loss
Heading into 1990, Tyson had decimated anyone on his way.
Behind the scenes, all was not thriving as well. Divorce and contract issues between Don King and Bill Clayton dominated the fighter’s off-ring mind. Tyson also fired longtime trainer Kevin Rooney who had picked the mantle after D’Amato and honed the skills and abilities of the champion.
In February 11 1990, Tyson suffered his first loss to Buster Douglas in one of the sport’s major upsets.
Arrest and Conviction
In 1991, Tyson was arrested for the rape of 18-year old Desiree Washington. He was convicted and sentenced to six years in prison along with four years of probation.
Tyson’s Resurgence
In 1996, after being paroled from prison, Tyson was back in the ring and recorded wins against Peter McNeeley, Frank Bruno and Buster Mathis Jr. The ‘Iron Mike’ had announced his return in the fight against Bruno when he knocked him out in the third round and thereby reclaiming the WBC title.
In September later that year, he reclaimed the WBA title with a first round win over Bruce Seldon.
Unknown to his fans who still loved and cheered for him, Tyson was ‘in the ring’ with a different adversary – Cocaine. In his autobiography, Tyson wrote that he would move around with a big bag of cocaine and ‘a straw coming out of it like it was a milkshake’.
Tyson vs Holyfield
Evander Holyfield was a former champion who had retired from the ring in 1994 after losing his title to Michael Moorer. Boxing Promoter Don King was among many others saw Holyfield as an underdog going into the fight – this was not to be so.
In the seventh round, Holyfield won via TKO.
In the aftermath, Tyson’s camp raised concerns over the frequent head-butts by Holyfield during the bout which the referee had ruled as accidental.
Tensions were rising ahead of the rematch.
June 28 1997 was the date set for the highly anticipated rematch at the Las Vegas MGM Grand Garden Arena (venue of the first bout).
In the third round, the referee stopped the fight with Tyson being disqualified for biting Holyfield on both ears.
Tyson had bit Holyfield and the match was temporarily stopped. When fight resumed, Tyson crunched Holyfield’s other ear.
Tyson would later state that his actions were in retaliation for Holyfield repeatedly headbutting him in the first fight without penalty.
Prison again
In February 1999, Tyson was sentenced to a year’s imprisonment for assaulting two motorists after a traffic accident. He served nine months of that sentence before he was released.
Fights in 2000
Tyson returned to the ring in January 2000 with a fight in Manchester, England against Julius Francis. Controversy emerged on whether Tyson was allowed into the country. When this was settled, Tyson made easy work of the bout knocking out Francis in the second round.
In June, Tyson was booked for a fight in Glasglow against Lou Savarese. Tyson won in the first round after 38 seconds.
In October, Tyson fought Andrew Golota winning in round three after Golota was unable to continue due to a broken cheekbone, concussion and neck injury.
The fight against was changed to a no-contest after Tyson refused to take a pre-fight drug test and then tested positive for marijuana in a post-fight urine test.
Tyson vs Lennox Lewis
In 2002, Tyson faced Lennox with an opportunity of championship as the latter was holding the WBC, IBF, IBO and Lineal titles.
At a press conference ahead of the fight, Tyson ran at Lewis and tried to punch him before a brawl erupted.
During the fight, Lennox knocked out Tyson in the eighth round with a powerful right punch.
In 2004, Tyson fought Danny Williams in another hopeful comeback fight. In the fourth round, Tyson was unexpectedly knocked out. It would later on be revealed that Tyson had been fighting on one leg having torn a ligament in his knee in the first round.
In June 2005 in a fight against Kevin McBride, Tyson quit before the start of the seventh round. He would later reveal that he booked the fight for a payday and that he did not anticipate to win.
Tyson would then quit boxing stating that ‘he had lost passion for the sport’.
Tyson later admitted to using drugs (from marijuana to cocaine) even during several of his fights.
In an interview with USA Today in 2005, Tyson said:
My whole life has been a waste – I’ve been a failure.
Mike Iron Tyson may not be a fighter anymore, but his days between the ropes will forever be a fascination.
