Mike Tyson

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Mike Tyson : biography

June 30, 1966 –

On July 30, 2004, Tyson faced British boxer Danny Williams in another comeback fight, this time staged in Louisville, Kentucky. Tyson dominated the opening two rounds. The third round was even, with Williams getting in some clean blows and also a few illegal ones, for which he was penalized. In the fourth round, Tyson was unexpectedly knocked out. After the fight, it was revealed that Tyson was trying to fight on one leg, having torn a ligament in his other knee in the first round. This was Tyson’s fifth career defeat., BBC Sports, 2004-07-31. Retrieved March 15, 2007. He underwent surgery for the ligament four days after the fight. His manager, Shelly Finkel, claimed that Tyson was unable to throw meaningful right-hand punches since he had an elbow injury., BBC Sports, 2004-07-31. Retrieved March 15, 2007.

On June 11, 2005, Tyson stunned the boxing world by quitting before the start of the seventh round in a close bout against journeyman Kevin McBride. On the 2008 Mike Tyson documentary Tyson, Tyson stated that he fought McBride for a payday, that he did not anticipate on winning, that he was out-of-shape and was tired of taking it seriously. After losing the third of his last four fights, Tyson said he would quit boxing because he felt he had lost his passion., BBC Sport, 2005-06-12. Retrieved March 14, 2007.

Boxing championships and accomplishments

Tyson established an impressive list of accomplishments, mostly early in his career:

Titles

  • Junior Olympic Games Champion Heavyweight 1982
  • National Golden Gloves Champion Heavyweight 1984
  • Undisputed Heavyweight champion (held all three major championship belts; WBA, IBF, and WBC) – August 1, 1987 – February 11, 1990
  • WBC Heavyweight Champion – November 22, 1986 – February 11, 1990, March 16, 1996 – September 24, 1996 (Vacated)
  • WBA Heavyweight Champion – March 7, 1987 – February 11, 1990, September 7, 1996 – November 9, 1996
  • IBF Heavyweight Champion – August 1, 1987 – February 11, 1990

Records

  • Youngest Heavyweight champion – 20 years and 4 months
  • Junior Olympic quickest KO – 8 seconds

Awards

  • Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year—1986 & 1988
  • BBC Sports Personality of the Year Overseas Personality—1989
  • Ring magazine Prospect of the Year—1985

Professional Wrestling

  • WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2012)

Exhibition tour

To help pay off his debts, Tyson returned to the ring in 2006 for a series of four-round exhibitions against journeyman heavyweight Corey "T-Rex" Sanders in Youngstown, Ohio. Tyson, without headgear at 5 ft 10.5 in and 216 pounds, was in great shape, but far from his prime against Sanders, with headgear at 6 ft 8 in and 293 pounds, a loser of his last seven pro bouts and nearly blind from a detached retina in his left eye. Tyson appeared to be "holding back" in these exhibitions to prevent an early end to the "show". "If I don’t get out of this financial quagmire there’s a possibility I may have to be a punching bag for somebody. The money I make isn’t going to help my bills from a tremendous standpoint, but I’m going to feel better about myself. I’m not going to be depressed," explained Tyson about the reasons for his "comeback".

Tyson–Holyfield fights

Tyson vs. Holyfield I

Tyson attempted to defend the WBA title against Evander Holyfield, who was in the fourth fight of his own comeback. Holyfield had retired in 1994 following the loss of his championship to Michael Moorer. It was said that Don King and others saw former champion Holyfield, who was 34 at the time of the fight and a huge underdog, as a washed-up fighter.Cohen, Andrew., , What is Enlightenment Magazine, Issue No. 15, 1999. Retrieved March 25, 2007.