For most people, sport is either an enjoyable pastime or an effective fat burner. However, there are athletes for whom sport was the gateway to leaving the ghetto, making many millions and becoming a legend. Undeniably, one such athlete is Mike Tyson. The legendary boxer had to go a long way to become a champion in his sport.
Difficult child
Mike Tyson is a two-time all-pro world champion, the youngest world heavyweight champion, a four-time champion in four different boxing federations and a fighter who has made a name for himself as a true 'Beast’. However, this was not always the case. There was a time when Mike Tyson was an unknown athlete to no one.
Mike Tyson was born in 1966 in Brooklyn, New York. His mother was Lorna Smith and his biological father was Jimy Kirkpatrick, but by far the greater influence on the boy’s upbringing was Percella Tyson, from whom the boy inherited his surname. Mike grew up in a dangerous Bronwsville neighbourhood, where he encountered dangerous situations more than once. At the age of eight, it is likely that during one of these he was attacked and raped by an older man. This story very much shaped his approach to the world and life, as he decided to become one of the most dangerous men in the world.
As a teenager, Tyson attended Catskill High School from where, however, he was expelled in 1982 for numerous fights and misdemeanours. By this time, however, he had already developed an interest in boxing, which quickly led to major successes. Already at the age of 15, he competed at the amateur Olympic Games, where he won a gold medal. A year later, he competed at the same event in the junior category, where he also won a gold medal. In 1984, he competed in the US national Golden Gloves heavyweight championships, which he completely dominated. This win opened the door to professional boxing for him.
Birth of the Beast
Mike Tyson made his debut as a professional boxer in March 1985 at the age of 19. In his first fight he faced Hector Mercedes, whom he knocked out in the very first round. He went on to have a 19-fight winning streak, 12 of which he won in the first round by knockout. This gave him the chance to face the then WBC heavyweight champion Trevor Berbick just one year later, in November 1986. By beating his opponent in the second round by knockout, Mike Tyson became the youngest all-weight world champion in the history of professional boxing at just 20 years of age. This event led to him being named the undisputed world champion by the three major federations – the World Boxing Council, the World Boxing Organization and the World Boxing Association.
He was undisputed champion for four consecutive years until he finally lost in 1990 to James Douglas, who defeated him by technical knockout. It was the fighter’s first loss. Tyson quickly recovered from the loss and stepped up again, beating four fighters along the way. He was ready to reach for the championship again, but was sent to prison following a rape charge in 1992. During his time in prison, the fighter did not train or stick to a weight loss diet which took quite a toll on his form when he was released from prison and stepped in the ring again. However, in 1996 he stepped up to fight for the WBA heavyweight championship and defeated Buce Seldon thus regaining his title. Unfortunately the fighter refused to fight Lennox Lewis, who was a certain contender as a result of which he had to vacate his title.
In 1996, Tyson faced Evander Holyfield in a fight to defend his WBA championship. He lost this fight by technical knockout and it was the fighter’s second defeat in professional boxing. However, the fighter was not fully defeated, but disqualified following a dangerous incident for which he lost his boxing licence and had to pay an additional fine of three million. This legendary fight was the beginning of the end of Mike Tyson’s dominance.
In 2000, Tyson took up the gloves with Polish fighter and title challenger Andrzej Golota. Although he won the fight, it was later declared a non-event due to suspicions that Tyson was under the influence of drugs. In 2002, the long-awaited fight between Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis finally took place, which Tyson lost after a long and gruelling fight. Towards the end of his professional career, the fighter still had fights with Danny Williams and Kevin McBrid, which he lost. As a result, he announced the end of his professional career in 2005.
The „little” dominator
Entering professional boxing, Mike Tyson weighed around 100 kilos and was about 178 centimetres long. This was not much for a professional fighter, so 'The Beast’ had to develop a style specific to him with which he could defeat his opponents. This style consisted of holding his fists close at eye or mouth level and shielding his face with his forearms. The boxer’s body swings from side to side, avoiding the blow. At the same time, the boxer waits for the right moment to attack. His attacks were strong, decisive, aggressive and extremely fast, with the result that he could dominate and knock out his opponent in an instant.
Giving up his professional boxing, the fighter did not give up his weight-loss diet or sport, and thus managed to maintain his figure and fitness. The fighter currently weighs 109 kilos with a height of 178 centromeres. His chest circumference is 132 cm and his waist circumference is 91.5 cm. The fighter also boasts biceps measuring 47 cm. With these dimensions, the fighter is still in shape.
Mike Tyson’s story is proof that sport is not only an effective fat burner, but also a way to get out of the ghetto and become a legend. Despite his various perturbations in life, Mike Tyson is one of the greatest legends of professional boxing and one of the best athletes in the world. An icon who has given motivation to many people all over the world.