Mike Tyson was one of the best heavyweight champions of the world, often seen as the modern equivalent of Mohammed Ali. However, he was also the most notorious and by the end of his career was as well known for his trouble with the law as he was for his boxing skill. Tyson was heavily influenced by those around him; in the beginning, with Cus D'Amato, this influence was helpful, but towards the end, sadly, the influence of people like Don King was not.
The Early Fatherless Years
Tyson, like many people driven to reach the top of their field, came from a broken home. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1966, and before he was two years old his father had left the family, leaving Lorna Tyson to raise her son alone. Tyson got into trouble early and was part of a street gang. He was sent to a reformatory school after being convicted of armed robbery when he was twelve.
Cus D'Amato -- A Surrogate Father
At reformatory school, Tyson's boxing potential was noticed by PE teacher Bobby Stewart. In 1981, three years after being sent to the school, Stewart introduced Tyson to his friend Cus D'Amato, a well-respected boxing coach, and in turn Cus introduced Tyson to the discipline of professional boxing. Cus became Tyson's only family a few years after they met, when Tyson's mother died and Cus became the young boy's legal guardian. With Cus's encouragement Tyson learned to read and grew in confidence.
Becoming a Champion
Cus died in 1985, the same year Tyson began to fight professionally. Tyson burst onto the professional fighting scene without a lot of attention from the press, but this soon changed when he began to win in spectacular fashion, usually knocking out his opponents within minutes. He went on to win the World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight title in 1986, making him the youngest heavyweight champion in history. In 1987, he became the World Boxing Association (WBA) and the International Boxing Federation (IBF) champion.
The Beginning of the End
At the close of 1987, Tyson was at the top of the boxing world and was being held up as a mentor for inner city kids. Then in 1988 he married Robin Givens, a TV star. A month after the wedding Tyson's manager Jim Jacobs died, and shortly after this Mike's behavior became erratic and violent. Robin filed for divorce later in the year.
Don King
Tyson had been beating the fighters that Don King represented, and King had encountered Tyson on the fighting circuit many times. King became Tyson's manager in 1989, and Tyson continued to defend his titles. However, in 1990 a relatively unknown fighter named James "Buster" Douglas beat Tyson in the tenth round, after recovering from a knockdown in the eighth round. In spite of King contesting the result, it was allowed to stand.
The Fall
In July 1991, Tyson was accused of rape by a contestant in the Miss Black America Pageant. In March 1992, he was sentenced to a six-year prison term, serving three years. Tyson fought Evander Holyfield in 1996, losing in the eleventh round. A re-match took place in 1997, when in the third round a frustrated Tyson bit a chunk out of Holyfield's ear. Tyson was disqualified, fined $3 million and had his boxing license suspended. Tyson endured further problems in the years to come, and the end of his boxing career was signaled by a defeat by Lennox Lewis in 2002.
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