Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson, born Michael Gerard Tyson in Brooklyn, New York, is a renowned former professional boxer who became the youngest heavyweight champion in history. Overcoming a troubled childhood marked by frequent arrests and the loss of his mother, Tyson found solace in boxing under the guidance of trainer Cus D'Amato, who became a father figure to him. Tyson's professional career took off in 1985, and by 1986, he had made history by unifying the WBC, WBA, and IBF titles, demonstrating his formidable knockout power and skill.
However, Tyson's rise to fame was accompanied by personal challenges, including erratic behavior and legal troubles. His career faced significant setbacks, notably when he was knocked out by Buster Douglas in 1990 and later served time in prison for a conviction related to sexual assault. After his release, Tyson attempted several comebacks, but his later years in the ring were marred by controversies, including the infamous ear-biting incident during a match with Evander Holyfield.
Despite the ups and downs of his boxing career, Tyson has remained a prominent figure in popular culture, transitioning into acting and public appearances. His journey has been marked by struggles with addiction and financial issues, yet he has also shared his story through memoirs and performances, reflecting on his life and the lessons learned along the way. Tyson's legacy in the sport and his broader impact on entertainment continue to resonate with audiences worldwide.
Mike Tyson
Boxer
- Born: June 30, 1966
- Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York
Boxer
In the late 1980s, Tyson was the most feared heavyweight boxer in the world. Storming into the sport at the age of eighteen, he won most of his early bouts convincingly. A shocking defeat in 1990 changed Tyson’s life, however, and started a downward spiral in his personal and professional lives.
Area of achievement: Sports: boxing
Early Life
Michael Gerard Tyson was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Jimmy Kirkpatrick and Lorna Smith Tyson. He had a brother, Rodney, and a sister, Denise. By the time Tyson was two years old, his father had left the family. His mother was later forced to move the family to Brownsville, Brooklyn, one of the more troubled areas in the city.
Because of his high voice, lisp, and small stature, Tyson was often a target for bullies. He learned to fight at a young age and fell in with a crowd that committed petty crimes. By the time Tyson was thirteen, he had been arrested thirty-eight times. His subsequent remand to the Tryon School for Boys marked a turning point in his life. Tyson’s counselor at the facility, Bob Stewart, was a former amateur boxing champion and helped to shape Tyson’s early forays into boxing. Despite some initial reluctance about the boy, Stewart later tried to teach Tyson everything he knew. Tyson took to boxing with a focused gusto, reading books on the sport and often sneaking out after curfew to work on his punches.
Stewart, sensing that Tyson was ready for more advanced training, introduced the young fighter to Cus D’Amato, a well-known boxing trainer. D’Amato became Tyson’s surrogate father, taking custody of the boy when he was fourteen. With a rigorous training schedule, Tyson honed his skills and began fighting in amateur bouts. Just when he was beginning to develop a more stable life, however, his mother died of cancer in 1982. Tyson later described her death as emotionally crushing. Around this time, he also was expelled from Catskill High School.
Life’s Work
Rather than return to a conventional high school, Tyson finished his schooling with tutors as he prepared for the 1984 Olympic trials. He did not earn a spot in the Olympic Games and instead turned professional at the age of eighteen. On March 6, 1985, Tyson made his professional debut in Albany, New York, against Hector Mercedes, whom he knocked out in the first round.
In November 1985, Tyson was felled by the death of D’Amato. Observers have speculated that D’Amato’s death haunted Tyson throughout his career. Kevin Rooney took over training Tyson, who achieved his thirteenth knockout in his next fight.
By the age of twenty, Tyson had accumulated a 22–0 record, with 21 of those victories coming by knockout. He became the youngest championship fighter in history when he beat Trevor Berbick for the World Boxing Council (WBC) title on November 22, 1986. He added the World Boxing Association (WBA) championship belt when he beat James Smith on March 7, 1987. Tyson beat Tony Tucker for the International Boxing Federation belt on August 1 of that same year, becoming the first boxer to hold all three major boxing championships.
With his boxing success came the trappings of fame, and Tyson relished them. He had a brief, ill-fated marriage to actor Robin Givens, from February 1988 to February 1989. His behavior became erratic and violent. In addition, his boxing began to falter as he sought flashy one-punch knockouts, disregarding the training that had made him a champion.
These problems came to a head on February 11, 1990, in Tokyo. Despite being heavily favored against Buster Douglas, Tyson was knocked out in the tenth round. He not only had never lost a professional fight, but he also had never been knocked out. In 1991, he was arrested on charges of raping an eighteen-year-old woman. He was later convicted and served three years of a six-year prison sentence. After his release, he vowed to return to his boxing form.
Tyson won a few bouts during this comeback bid, but when he faced Evander Holyfield in 1996, he was thwarted in the eleventh round. Feeling that Holyfield had repeatedly head-butted him during the fight, he sought and received a rematch. The second fight, in 1998, was marred by an infamous incident in which he bit off part of Holyfield’s ear. His boxing license was suspended. When it was reinstated, he mounted another comeback attempt. In 2002, he had the opportunity to face Lennox Lewis, the World Boxing Organization (WBO), International Boxing Federation (IBF), and International Boxing Organization (IBO) champion. In a then record-setting pay-per-view event, Lewis dominated Tyson, scoring an eighth-round knockout. The fight was the last major bout of his career.
Tyson’s life after boxing was fraught with legal and financial troubles. He filed for bankruptcy in 2003, despite earning some $400 million during his career. He sought treatment for drug addiction after arrests for drug possession and driving under the influence. In the late 2000s, he worked primarily as a pitchman for various products. He also made a brief appearance as himself in the hit comedy film The Hangover (2009).
In 2012, Tyson starred in a one-man Broadway show for a limited, six-production engagement. Written by his third wife and titled Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth, the show, directed by Spike Lee, chronicles his life from childhood through his bouts in the ring to his struggle to become sober. Though the show received mixed reviews, Tyson conducted a national tour and went on to cowrite a memoir titled The Undisputed Truth (2013), while Spike Lee adapted his one-man show for television to premiere on HBO that same year. In interviews, Tyson communicated issues concerning his sobriety and finances.
In November 2020, Tyson returned to the ring for a charitable exhibition bout in which he fought Roy Jones Jr. Though it was not an official match, it was declared a tie after eight rounds.
Significance
In his prime, Tyson was one of the most fearsome heavyweight fighters of all time. He was the youngest heavyweight champion in history. His early success, however, led to a precipitous decline. With celebrity came poor training habits, troubles with the law, and financial irresponsibility. After his retirement, his outrageous behavior, legal woes, and film and television appearances cemented his status as a major figure in pop culture.
Bibliography
Brookhouse, Brent. "Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. Fight Results, Highlights: Legends Fight to a Draw in Exhibition Match." CBS Sports, 29 Nov. 2020, www.cbssports.com/boxing/news/mike-tyson-vs-roy-jones-jr-fight-results-highlights-legends-fight-to-a-draw-in-exhibition-match/live/. Accessed 11 Jan. 2021.
Cashmore, Ellis. Tyson: Nurture of the Beast. Malden: Polity, 2005. Print.
Layden, Joe. The Last Great Fight: The Extraordinary Tale of Two Men and How One Fight Changed Their Lives Forever. New York: St. Martin’s, 2007. Print.
O’Connor, Danial, ed. Iron Mike: A Mike Tyson Reader. New York: Thunder’s Mouth, 2002. Print.
Shaw, Mark. Down for the Count: The Shocking Truth Behind the Mike Tyson Rape Trial. Champaign: Sagamore, 1993. Print.
Tyson, Mike, and Larry Sloman. Undisputed Truth. New York: Blue Rider, 2013. Print.