Mike Tyson’s colourful life, from heavyweight boxing champion to jail term for r.a.p.e, owning tigers and Hollywood movies

IS it any wonder Mike Tyson is looking forward to death?

After all, this is a man who has lived a life for at least three of us.

Mike Tyson is one of the most colourful sports stars of all timeCredit: Reuters

Today, Mike Tyson cuts a very different figure these days as a cannabis producer – and userCredit: Refer to Caption
Born in Brooklyn, New York ‘Iron Mike’ had a meteoric rise, filled with anger about his past, that led to him becoming the youngest heavyweight champion of the world at the age of 20.

He owned tigers in his sprawling mansions, spent time behind bars, admitted drug addiction, blew all his money, but somehow found Hollywood redemption through the Hangover movies.

His story is certainly like no other.

A TOUGH START

Raised in Brownsville, a neighbourhood rife with crime, Tyson, now 53, had a tough start to life – fit for the boxer he became.

He didn’t know his biological father Purcell Tyson and his stepdad Jimmy Kirkpatrick walked out on him and his family soon after he was born.

Tyson would later say about Kirkpatrick: “My father was just a regular street guy caught up in the street world.”

As a teen, he fell into bad company, associating with local gangs and getting himself into trouble.

He was taunted by other kids for his high-pitched voice and lisp, and got into plenty of fights.

Remarkably, before he had turned 13, Tyson had been arrested around 38 times and was sent to a juvenile home called Tryson school for boys.

As a young boy Tyson was taunted for his high-pitched voice and lispCredit: Getty Images – Getty
He once revealed his first scuffle was with a bigger youth who pulled the head off one of his beloved pigeons. He sought out comfort in them even then, in what has become a life-long passion.

At 16, Tyson suffered tragedy when his mother Lorna Mae Smith died.

He revealed: “I never saw my mother happy with me and proud of me for doing something: she only knew me as being a wild kid running the streets, coming home with new clothes that she knew I didn’t pay for.

“I never got a chance to talk to her or know about her. Professionally, it has no effect, but it’s crushing emotionally and personally.”

CUS D’AMATO

During those early formulative years, Tyson had already picked up boxing at Tryson and his potential was spied by Bobby Stewart, a juvenile detention centre counsellor and former boxer.

Wowed by his natural ability and aggression, Stewart took him under his wing before introducing him to Cus D’Amato – the trainer that made him the most fierce puncher the boxing world has ever seen.

After Tyson’s mum died, D’Amato became his legal guardian and mentor.

They trained religiously at the Catskill Boxing Club, where Cus taught Mike his famous peek-a-boo style of boxing, with the hands in front of the face offering more protection.

Legendary trainer Cus D’Amato took Tyson under his wing as his mentor and guardian when his mum diedCredit: Time & Life Pictures – Getty

A YOUNG CHAMP

In 1986, after winning 25 of his first 27 fights by knockout, Tyson had earned a chance to fight for the WBC title.

He was already becoming a TV draw because of his blood-thirsty appetite for ending fights early.

And his fight against Trevor Berbick was a destruction punters paid thousands of dollars to see at the Las Vegas Hilton.

Inside two rounds, Berbick had no answer and was pummelled into submission.

An uppercut and a blow to the temple left the champ’s legs like jelly, and despite attempts to get off the canvas, Berbick twice lost his balance and collapsed – giving the referee no choice but to call the fight.

Tyson became the youngest ever heavyweight champion at 20 years, four months, and 22 days old.

Wins over James Smith and Tony Tucker in 1987 added both the WBA and IBF titles to the WBC belt he won off Berbick.

But mentally Tyson was suffering. A year before lifted his first title, mentor D’Amato passed away.

Many believe his death from pneumonia aged 77 was the catalyst to the problems Tyson faced later in life.

In 1986 Tyson made short work of Trevor BerbickCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Tyson became the youngest ever heavyweight champ aged 20Credit: Getty – Contributor

SPIRALLING OUT OF CONTROL

In the late 80s and early 90s, Tyson’s life began to spiral out of control.

His tumultuous first marriage to actress Robin Givens ended after a year, amid claims of violence, domestic abuse and Tyson’s mental instability.

Incredibly, they appeared together on an American chat show in 1988 and gave a joint interview in which Givens said being with Tyson was: “torture, pure hell, worse than anything I could possibly imagine.”

She also labeled her partner a “manic depressive”, all while Tyson was sat next to her looking calm and collected.

In the book, Fire and Fear: The Inside Story of Mike Tyson, Tyson later admitted that he did punch Givens saying, “that was the best punch I’ve ever thrown in my life.”

Tyson began enjoying the party lifestyle with friends like rapper Tupac ShakurCredit: Mike Tyson/Instagram

A marriage to actress Robin Givens ended in divorce a year laterCredit: AP:Associated Press

Givens alleged their relationship was violent and abusive and called Tyson a “manic depressive”Credit: AFP

TIME INSIDE

In 1991 Tyson was arrested for the r.a.p.e of 18-year-old Desiree Washington, a former Miss Black Rhode Island, in a hotel room in Indianapolis.

He was soon put on trial at the Marion County superior court, with his reputation in tatters.

Washington’s story was corroborated by Tyson’s then-chauffeur Virginia Foster, who the model revealed her state of shock moments after the incident.

ER physician Thomas Richardson who examined Washington provided further testimony that her physical condition was consistent with r.a.p.e.

Despite Tyson’s protestations that Washington had given him full consent, he was sentenced to six years in prison in 1992 along with four years of probation. He was just 25 at the time.

Miss Black Rhode Island Desiree Washington accused Tyson of r.a.p.eCredit: Rex Features

In 1992 Tyson was sentenced to six years in prisonCredit: AFP

THE COMEBACK

After serving just short of three years of his sentence, Tyson began the comeback trail.

He easily won his bouts against Peter McNeeley and Buster Mathis Jr. The fight against McNeeley proved he was still a big pay-per-view draw, grossing more than $96MILLION worldwide.

In 1996, he won back the WBC title by defeating Frank Bruno inside three rounds.

He followed that victory by clinching the WBA title from Bruce Seldon. But his greatest foe, Evander Holyfield was up next.

In the first of two classic matches, Tyson was stopped inside 11 rounds by his opponent.

The rematch dubbed ‘The Sound and the Fury’ prompted boxing’s most controversial moment ever.

At the end of the third round, Tyson was disqualified for biting Holyfield on both ears.

The final chomp was so severe a piece of Holyfield’s right ear was found on the ring floor after the fight.

Tyson’s purse was suspended, his boxing licence was rescinded and he was fined around £2MILLION.

Tyson returned to the ring two years laterCredit: Allsport

His infamous fight against Evander Holyfield resulted in disqualification for ear bitingCredit: AFP – Getty

A piece of Holyfield’s ear was later found in the ringCredit: Allsport

LIFE AFTER BOXING

At the top of his game he owned mansions in Ohio and Las Vegas, which were the scene for wild parties, and housed his pet tigers.

But by 2003 Tyson was filling for bankruptcy, despite earning around £200MILLION during his career.

At that time, it was reported he was saddled with £15m-worth of debt.

In a 2005 interview with USA Today, he was downcast about his life.

“My whole life has been a waste – I’ve been a failure,” he said.

“I just want to escape. I’m really embarrassed with myself and my life. I want to be a missionary.

“I think I could do that while keeping my dignity without letting people know they chased me out of the country.

“I want to get this part of my life over as soon as possible. In this country nothing good is going to come of me. People put me so high; I wanted to tear that image down.”

Tyson lived a lavish life and owned pet tigersCredit: Rex Features

Soon though, Tyson’s lifestyle caught up with him and he was saddled with debtCredit: Getty – Contributor

HOLLYWOOD REDEMPTION

Hollywood loves a villain, and is always willing to hand out second chances.

In 2009, Tyson appeared in The Hangover alongside Bradley Cooper and Zach Galifianakis and provided the comedy turn that stole the film.

A tiger was also thrown into the scenes that showed the former champ wasn’t afraid to poke fun at himself.

He also starred in the film’s sequel, and followed that up with roles in Scary Movie 5, Stallone’s Grudge Match, as well as an episode of Entourage.

Hollywood loves a villain and Tyson was the perfect tonicCredit: AP:Associated Press

Tyson proved to be comedy gold starring in The Hangover moviesCredit: Warner Bros

Tyson is also a hit on Broadway with his one-man showCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Last year Tyson opened up his own cannabis farm

Somehow, against adversity, Tyson turned his life around.

A one-man Broadway show has since become a success, while he’s also become a advocate for marijuana – recently opening up his own cannabis farm.

With surely more to come, Tyson can’t be thinking of dying just yet?

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