Mike Tyson
The baddest man on the planet and youngest heavyweight champion in history.
Michael Gerard Tyson (born June 30, 1966) is an American former professional boxer who competed between 1985 and 2024. Nicknamed "Iron Mike" and "Kid Dynamite" in his early career, and later known as "the Baddest Man on the Planet", Tyson is widely regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time, and one of the most intimidating men in boxing history. He reigned as the undisputed world heavyweight champion from 1987 to 1990.
Quick Facts
- Role
- Heavyweight Boxer
- Affiliation
- United States
- Peak era
- Late 1980s to Early 1990s
- Status
- Retired (Legendary)
- Championships held
- WBA
- WBC
- IBF
- Notable achievement
- Youngest Heavyweight Champion in History
Lore & Background
Tyson won his first 19 professional fights by knockout, 12 of them in the first round. Claiming his first belt at age 20, he holds the record as the youngest boxer ever to win a heavyweight title. He was the first heavyweight to simultaneously hold the WBA, WBC, and IBF titles, and the only heavyweight to unify them in succession. In 1990, he lost the undisputed championship when he was knocked out by Buster Douglas. After his release from prison in 1995, he regained the WBA and WBC titles in 1996, joining Floyd Patterson, Muhammad Ali, Tim Witherspoon, Evander Holyfield, and George Foreman as the only men to have regained a heavyweight championship after losing it.
Reader's Guide
Tyson was known for his ferocious and intimidating boxing style, inspired by Sonny Liston. With a knockout-to-win percentage of 88%, he was ranked 16th on The Ring magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time, and first on ESPN's list of "The Hardest Hitters in Heavyweight History." He has been inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame.
Did You Know?
- In November 2024, his bout against Jake Paul became the biggest boxing gate in US history outside of Las Vegas.
- Tyson was convicted of rape in 1992 and sentenced to six years in prison, but was released on parole after three years.
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