Michael Gerard Tyson, globally known as Mike Tyson, and later adopting the name Malik Abdul Aziz after converting to Islam, is an American former professional boxer who became the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Tyson grew up in some of the city’s most crime-ridden neighborhoods, becoming involved in street gangs and criminal activity from an early age. By the age of 13, he had been arrested more than 30 times for offenses including weapon possession.

Tyson was sent to the Tryon School for Boys in New York, where his frequent fighting caught the attention of former amateur boxing champion Bob Stewart. Stewart introduced him to boxing, and in 1980 Tyson was introduced to legendary trainer Cus D’Amato. Tyson moved to Catskill, New York, where D’Amato began shaping him into a disciplined fighter using the peek-a-boo style. After D’Amato’s death from pneumonia on November 4, 1985, Tyson continued his career under the guidance of Kevin Rooney.

Mike Tyson made his professional debut on March 6, 1985, knocking out his opponent just eight seconds into the first round. By the age of 20, he had already established himself as a dominant force in the heavyweight division. On November 22, 1986, Tyson defeated Jamaican-born Canadian champion Trevor Berbick by second-round knockout to win the WBC World Heavyweight Championship, becoming the youngest heavyweight champion in history.

Tyson unified the heavyweight division in rapid succession. On March 7, 1987, he defeated fellow American James “Bonecrusher” Smith to claim the WBA title, and on May 30, 1987, he defended his belts against Pinklon Thomas. On August 1, 1987, Tyson defeated IBF champion Tony Tucker by unanimous decision, becoming the undisputed heavyweight world champion.

In his personal life, Tyson married actress Robin Givens on February 7, 1988. The marriage was turbulent and highly publicized, ending in divorce on February 14, 1989. During this period, Tyson parted ways with trainer Kevin Rooney and became increasingly associated with legal issues, nightclub altercations, and violent incidents, including assaults involving boxer Mitch Green.

By 1990, Tyson had won all 37 of his professional bouts. His undefeated streak ended on February 11, 1990, when he suffered a shocking knockout loss to Buster Douglas in Tokyo, Japan, losing the WBC, WBA, and IBF titles. Later that year, Tyson became embroiled in a highly publicized rape case involving a former Miss Black America contestant. On March 26, 1992, he was sentenced to three years in prison. During his incarceration, Tyson converted to Islam and adopted the name Malik Abdul Aziz.

Upon his release in 1995, Tyson returned to boxing but continued to attract controversy. He defeated Peter McNeeley in his comeback fight on August 19, 1995. In 1996, Tyson regained the WBC title by defeating Frank Bruno and later captured the WBA title by knocking out Bruce Seldon. However, his reign was short-lived, as he lost to Evander Holyfield later that year.

On June 28, 1997, during their rematch, Tyson was disqualified for biting Holyfield’s ear — one of the most infamous incidents in sports history. He was fined three million dollars, suspended for two years, and banned for life from boxing in Ohio. Tyson later faced numerous legal and financial penalties, including lawsuits involving promoter Don King.

Tyson returned intermittently to boxing, defeating fighters such as Francois Botha and Brian Nielsen, but continued to struggle with substance abuse and legal issues. His final major bout came on June 8, 2002, when he lost to British champion Lennox Lewis in a world title fight. On June 11, 2005, after losing to Kevin McBride, Tyson officially retired from professional boxing.

Over his career, Tyson fought 59 professional bouts, winning 50 (44 by knockout), losing 6, with 2 no contests and 1 draw. Despite ongoing financial problems after retirement, Tyson remained a public figure, openly discussing his marijuana use and later entering the cannabis industry. In 2018, he founded the Tyson Cultivation School in California to educate farmers on hemp cultivation.

Tyson has appeared in nine feature films, including Rocky Balboa, The Hangover, and The Hangover Part II. In 2020, fifteen years after retiring, he returned to the ring for an exhibition bout against Roy Jones Jr at the Staples Center in Los Angeles; the fight ended in a draw and reportedly earned Tyson 20 million dollars.

Mike Tyson has been married three times: to Robin Givens, Monica Turner, and Lakiha Spicer. He has eight children: Muhammad Tyson, D’Amato Tyson, Mikey Tyson, Rayna Tyson, Amir Tyson, Miguel Tyson, Morocco Elijah Tyson, and Exodus Tyson, who tragically passed away in 2009 at the age of four.

Feared, controversial, and endlessly fascinating, Mike Tyson remains one of the most influential and rebellious figures in the history of boxing.

Filmography
2013 – Scary Movie 5
2011 – The Hangover Part II
2011 – Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen
2009 – The Hangover
2008 – Tyson
2006 – Rocky Balboa
2004 – When Will I Be Loved
2001 – Bolivia
1999 – Till Death

Source: Biyografiler.com