Mike Tyson's Biography

The boxer, whose full name is Michael Gerard Tyson, had a tough background. Mike Tyson's father was a pimp, whom he never knew, and his mother died when he was 16. His sister died in her twenties.

As a boy, Mike Tyson was a member of a street gang and had the nickname, Fairy Boy, because of his lisp.

Mike Tyson was taken in hand by boxing trainer, Cus d'Amato, and he made his professional debut in Albany, New York on 6 March 1985.

Not long after d'Amato died, but on 22 November 1986 Mike Tyson became the youngest ever heavyweight boxing champion by beating Trevor Berbick to take the WBC heavyweight title.

In 1987, by defeating James 'Bonecrusher' Smith and Tony Tucker, 'Iron' Mike Tyson secured the WBA and IBF titles.

Tyson's marriage to actress Robin Givens ended in divorce amid accusations of wife-beating. He also crashed his car and smashed up his home, and he lost his heavyweight crown to James 'Buster' Douglas on 11 February 1990 when he was knocked out in the tenth round.

Tyson was afflicted with more trouble in his personal life when in 1992, he was found guilty of raping Desiree Washington. During his three years sentence Tyson turned to Islam.

In 1996 Mike Tyson won the WBC title by beating Frank Bruno and the WBA title with an easy victory over Bruce Seldon.

1997 brought further controversy in the ring when Tyson was disqualified and banned for biting a chunk out of Evander Holyfield's ear.

In 1999, Tyson returned to prison for assault. In 2004 Mike Tyson made a comeback but was knocked out in the fourth round by Danny Williams.

Mike Tyson has five children. His second marriage was to Monica Turner, but that ran into difficulties over claims he fathered a child by someone else.

In June 2005, Mike Tyson said he was going to quit boxing after a surprise defeat by Irishman Kevin McBride.

When he announced that he was returning to the ring in October 2006 to fight four-round exhibition matches against former sparring partner Corey "T-Rex" Sanders, Mike Tyson said:

"I think I'm useless to society. I don't think I'm worthy of the people who come out to see me, but they do."

At the end of 2006, Mike Tyson was charged with driving under the influence of drugs and possession of cocaine. In September 2007, Mike Tyson pleaded guilty to the charges.

In May 2009, Exodus Tyson, Mike Tyson's four-year-old daughter, became fatally entangled in a cable in what police described as a "tragic accident".

Exodus Tyson was pronounced dead at 11:45 a.m. local time on Tuesday 26 May 2009.

Two weeks later, Mike Tyson got married for a third time, when he exchanged vows with Lakiha Spicer.

In 2010 Mike Tyson was making a pigeon racing show for US television.

In 2024, he was scheduled to go back in the ring for the first time professionally since 2005 and fight Jake Paul.