This biography is from “The Anthology of Professional Boxers”. You can buy the book here

MIKE TYSON

Mike Tyson remains the youngest boxer to win the world heavyweight title. He was just20 when he defeated Trevor Berbick in 1986 to win the WBC heavyweight title. Tyson later became the undisputed world champion, but his career, and life, descended into chaos after a loss to James “Buster” Douglas in 1990. Tyson was born in New York in 1966. He had a troubled childhood, and was orphaned by the age of 16. He started boxing shortly afterwards, and made his professional debut in March 1985. In his first year, Tyson won his first nineteen fights via knockout, and became a top contender for the heavyweight title. He earned a shot against Berbick in Las Vegas in November 1986. Tyson won by TKO in the second round to become the youngest ever world heavyweight champion. In March 1987 Tyson met WBA world heavyweight champion James “Bonecrusher” Smith in a unification bout. Tyson won via unanimous decision after twelve rounds, and later that year defeated Tony Tucker to win the IBF world title to become the undisputed world heavyweight champion. 395 Tyson won his next six bouts via knockout, and developed an aura of invincibility after accounting for Frank Bruno, Larry Holmes, Michael Spinks and Tony Tubbs. In February 1990 he faced Douglas in Tokyo. Tyson knocked Douglas down in the eighth round, but the challenger recovered to knock out Tyson for the first time in his career in the tenth. In a major upset, Douglas became world champion when Tyson could not make the count. After suffering his first loss, Tyson won his next four fights to earn another shot at the title, held by Evander Holyfield. The bout was booked for November 1991, but an injury to Tyson caused it to be delayed. Tyson was arrested and charged with rape in 1991. He continues to maintain his innocence, but was found guilty by a jury, and sentenced to six years in prison. Tyson was released on parole in 1995, and easily won his first two fights. In March 1986, Tyson knocked out Frank Bruno in the third round to win the WBC world heavyweight title. In September he added the WBA world title by defeating Bruce Seldon by TKO in the first round. In November 1996, Tyson defended the title against Evander Holyfield. The referee stopped the bout in the eleventh round and awarded the 396 victory, and the title to Holyfield. The pair had their rematch in June 1997 in Las Vegas. In one of the most bizarre bouts in history, Tyson complained about unchecked head-butts in the early rounds. The referee ruled them unintentional, but Tyson snapped in the third round, and bit a piece of Holyfield’s ear. The bout was stopped for several minutes while the referee contemplated disqualifying Tyson. Holyfield indicated he was willing to continue, but Tyson again bit Holyfield, causing the referee to award the bout to Holyfield before the end of the third round. Tyson knocked out South African Francis Botha in a spiteful encounter in January 1999, but later that year spent more time in prison for assault. He was released before the end of the year, and was at his most destructive in wins over Lou Savarese and Brian Nielsen. In June 2002 Tyson earned a shot at the world title, held by Lennox Lewis. The bout was booked for Las Vegas, but after a wild press conference which ended with both boxers and their entourages involved in a brawl, the bout was moved to Memphis. In the highest grossing pay per view bout in history at that time, Lewis dominated the fight, and won with an eighth round knockout. 397 After losses to Danny Williams and Kevin McBride, Tyson announced his retirement in 2005. He finished with a record of fifty wins and six losses. In 2011 Tyson was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. In retirement Tyson has worked in film and television, and has participated in World Wrestling Entertainment programming. He has also started his own charity for troubled children. Tyson remains an iconic figure in popular culture which transcends the world of boxing.