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Young Mike Tyson unbelievably secured boxing greatness despite numerous scandals in his career
At just 20 years old, Mike Tyson seized the opportunity to become the youngest heavyweight boxing champion of all time, putting him on the path to legendhood. However, his impressive achievements in the ring were marred by his propensity for trouble-making.
Background and early days
Michael Gerard Tyson was born in 1966 in the Brooklyn borough of New York. His childhood was spent in impoverished surroundings, in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood. His father left the family when Tyson was just two years old.
The initial years of Tyson's life were marked by a series of criminal activities, including petty thefts, armed robberies, and even pickpocketing. These offenses saw the youngster being arrested an astonishing 38 times before he was 12. Subsequently, he was sent to a school designed for difficult-to-educate children.
Mike's life took a significant turn when he met the school's sports teacher, Bobby Stewart. Stewart witnessed the youngster's potential and introduced him to Constantine "Cus" D'Amato, a renowned boxing trainer. The untimely death of Tyson's mother led to D'Amato taking custody of the budding boxing star.
Boxing prowess
Guided by D'Amato, Tyson developed into a true natural talent. At 1982, Tyson set a record for the fastest knockout in amateur boxing. Tyson turned professional at the ripe age of 18, and after a successful run in the amateur circuits, he made history by defeating Trevor Berbick, the world champion, in the second round of their fight in 1986. At merely 20 years old, he became the youngest world heavyweight champion to date.
Category by category, Tyson won all the significant titles in professional boxing, accomplishing this feat in just three years. The comparison of Tyson with renowned boxers such as Muhammad Ali became a common occurrence.
Tragedy struck when Tyson lost both D'Amato and Jim Jacobs, his foster father and manager, within a short period of time. He then joined forces with Don King, a man that D'Amato had always advised Tyson to steer clear of. With King's involvement, Tyson began to gradually lose his once-acclaimed boxing style.
Scandals and setbacks
The cocktail of poor management and health issues resulted in a four-year hiatus in Tyson's career. This break was due to a prison sentence following a rape conviction. Upon his release, Tyson and King attempted a comeback in 1995.
During one of his most well-known matches against Evander Holyfield, Tyson made headlines for biting off part of Holyfield's right ear. This action came with disastrous consequences. Tyson's boxing license was revoked, and he faced a hefty fine of over three million dollars. He even sued his former manager King, accusing him of fraud and demanding a staggering one hundred million dollars in compensation.
A second prison stint for assault threatened to end Tyson's career permanently. However, Mike didn't throw in the towel until 2005. In 2016, he published his autobiography titled "Undisputed Truth: My Autobiography."
Recent years
Tyson continues to maintain a high profile in the public eye, from gracing popular talk shows to appearing in films. In 2009 and 2011, he starred as himself in the "Hangover" movies. A biographical film, "Untitled Mike Tyson Biopic", is set to be released in 2025, with Jamie Foxx portraying the boxer.
Now, Tyson has been challenged by YouTube sensation Jake Paul to a boxing match. Netflix will be broadcasting this event on July 20, 2022.
Despite the ups and downs in his life, Tyson has found happiness with his current wife, Lakiha Spice. They wed in 2009 and became parents to Milan in 2008 and Morocco in 2011.
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Source: symclub.org
