First Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion Since Muhammad Ali Tyson's place at the top of the boxing tree began to materialise towards his dreams with each victory. In less than two years later and after racking up 27 consecutive wins. Tyson finished his first year with a record of 15 wins, 15 knockouts, no loses. Mike Tyson signed to fight Trevor Berbick for the World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight title. On the 26th November 1986, in less than six minutes in the ring, Mike Tyson was crowned heavyweight champion at the unprecedented age of 20. Tyson's sole mission in life at that time, was to unify the heavyweight division and give the world its first undisputed heavyweight champion since Muhammad Ali a decade before. Mike Tyson accomplished the second leg of his mission on 7th March 1987, with a 12 round victory over James "Bonecrusher" Smith to add the World Boxing Association (WBA) belt to his growing collection. Then five months later, his dream was completed. On 1st August 1987, Mike Tyson became the undisputed world heavyweight champion by out-pointing Tony Tucker to claim the International Boxing Federation (IBF) belt, thus unifying the titles. Mike Tyson Convicted of Rape By Indianapolis Jury. After a short, turbulent marriage and managerial misconceptions, Mike Tyson looked to his long-time friends, John Horne, Rory Holloway and Don King. Rebounding from a devastating loss. In Tokyo, on the 11th of February 1990, James ""Buster" Douglas was suppose to fall just like the rest. Listed as high as a 42-1 favourite, Tyson began believing what everyone was saying about this match-up. Who could fault Mike Tyson for this, as it was the same thing he had heard many times before. Mike Tyson added two first round knockouts to close out 1990. As talks heated up with then champion Evander Holyfield, Tyson got into trouble outside the ring. With an impending trial looming over his head. Mike Tyson was convicted of rape by an Indianapolis jury and sentenced to six years in prison. Released from prison in 1995, Mike Tyson returned to boxing, winning the World Boxing Council title in 1996. That same year, however, Mike Tyson lost to Evander Holyfield, and in the 1997 rematch Tyson bit out a piece of Holyfield's right ear. Mike Tyson has been given nicknames of "Iron" Mike Tyson, Kid Dynamite, and The Baddest Man on the Planet
Mike Tyson Own Words After He Had Bitten Out a Piece of Evander Holyfield Ear:
Mike Tyson: "I Thank You For This Opportunity.""Saturday night was the worst night of my professional career as a boxer and I am here today to apologize, to ask the people who expected more from Mike Tyson to forgive me for snapping in that ring and doing something that I have never done before and will never do again. I apologise to the world, to my family and to the Nevada State Athletic Commission that has always treated me fairly, to Judge Patricia Gifford who knows that I am proud to be living up to the terms of my probation." "I apologize to the MGM, to Showtime, to Don King, my promoter, to my team and to this wonderful city of Las Vegas that has hosted so many famous boxing events. I cannot tell you why, exactly, I acted like I did other than to say that when the butting occurred and I thought I might lose because of the severity of the cut above my eye, I just snapped and I reacted and did what many athletes would have done and have paid the price for it. " "You have seen it in basketball with fist fights on the floor and in baseball with riots on the field and even spitting in the face of an official. For an athlete in the heat of battle to suddenly lose it is not new but it's not right and for me it doesn't change anything. I was wrong. And I expect to pay the price like a man. I expect the Nevada State Athletic Commission to hand down a severe penalty and I am here today to say I will not fight it." "I only ask that I not be penalised for life for this mistake. I will instruct my managers and promoters to waive any time restrictions so the penalties can begin immediately so that I can show the boxing fans of the world that I am willing to accept what I have coming to me. I have also told everyone associated with me that I will not stand for any more of the nasty and insulting comments made to Evander Holyfield and his boxing team." "Evander, I am sorry!" "You are a champion and I respect that. I am only saddened that this fight did not go further so that the boxing fans of the world might see for themselves who would come out on top. When you butted in that first round, accidentally or not, I snapped in reaction and the rest is history. To those of you who say that I should never fight again." "I can only say that I am just 31 years old, in the prime of my career, and I have made it this far because I had no other way. I grew up in the streets. I fought my way out and I will not go back again. I learned the hard way from the past, because I didn't have the luxury of schools, or people to help me at a time when I needed it the most." "And I will learn from this horrible mistake, too. I have reached out since Saturday to ask my God to help me and to renew my faith as a true believer. I have also reached out since Saturday to the medical professionals for help, to tell me why I did what I did and I will have that help. Now I will continue to train not just my body but my mind too, so that if it's possible I can put this behind me so that I will know that it can never happen again." |
