"Iron" Mike Tyson
(Michael Gerard Tyson)
BORN June 30 1966; Brooklyn, New York HEIGHT 5-10 1/2 (Some sources report 5-11 1/2) WEIGHT 212-239 3/4 lbs MANAGERS Bill Cayton and Jimmy Jacobs, Rory Holloway and John Horne, Shelly Finkel TRAINERS Kevin Rooney, Richie Giachetti, Ronnie Shields, Freddie Roach, Jeff Fenech Tyson was one of the most brutal, two-handed punchers in boxing history; When he attacked, his combination of punches straightened opponents up and laid them out; The big secret in fighting Mike was to not let him get too close
At 20 years of age in 1986, the sturdy, compact Tyson became the youngest man to ever win the Heavyweight Championship; At his peak and seemingly invincible, Tyson lost to James "Buster" Douglas in 1990; His personal problems, present throughout his career, finally became a serious obstacle to his career; They disrupted his life inside and outside the ring, impaired his ring "focus" and ultimately led to his imprisonment; When he resumed fighting, his intent was serious but he lacked the edge to jump right in and take on the opponents that he did
Tyson is most famous for his two unsuccessful bouts with Evander Holyfield; During his career, he defeated such men as Larry Holmes, Michael Spinks, Carl "Truth" Williams, Tony Tucker and Frank Bruno
Herb Goldman ranked Tyson as the #11 All-Time Heavyweight
Tyson-Berbick 1986 Fight Video Clip Tyson-Holmes 1988 Fight Video Clip Tyson-Spinks 1988 Fight Video Clip Tyson-Bruno #1 1989 Fight Video Clip Tyson-Stewart 1990 Fight Video Clip Tyson-Bruno #2 1996 Fight Video Clip Tyson Fight Video Clip (3:54 min) Another Tyson Fight Video Clip (10:17 min) (Press thebutton at the top of the screen to return)
*** SOME AMATEUR BOUTS (48-6) *** 1981 Jun an unnamed opponent KO 1 -United States Junior Olympic Heavyweight Championship Nov Ernie Bennet in Rhode Island L 3 1982 Jun Jonathon Littles Salem, Or KO 2 Jun Don Cozad Salem, Or KO 1 Jun 26 Kelton Brown Salem, Or KO 1 -The previous 3 bouts were part of the United States Junior Olympic Heavyweight Tournament Kilbert Pierce Boston, Ma W 3 -This bout was part of USA/ABF Region 1 Tournament Dec 12 Al Evans Binghampton, NY LK 3 1983 Mar Andrew Stokes Albuquerque, NM KO 3 Mar Mike Bardwell Albuquerque, NM KO 1 Mar Warren Thompson Albuquerque, NM W 3 Mar 26 Craig Payne Albuquerque, NM L 3 -The previous 4 bouts were part of the National Golden Gloves Super Heavyweight Competition Aug 14 Olian Alexander W -Ohio State Fair National Invitational, 200 lbs Competition Aug 27 -Tyson won the United States (Under 19) Heavyweight Championship Dec 10 Kimmuel Odum LF 2 -United States Heavyweight Championship Tournament 1984 Orbit Pough KO 1 -United States (Under 19) Heavyweight Championship Derek Isaman W 3 Richard Johnson KO Johnny Williams KO Rocky Pepeli KO Jonathan Littles KO 1 -The previous 5 bouts were part of the National Golden Gloves 201 lbs Competition Jun 8 Avery Rawls Fort Worth, Tx W 3 Jun 9 Henry Milligan Fort Worth, Tx KO 2 Jun 10 Henry Tillman Fort Worth, Tx L 3 -The previous 3 bouts were part of the United States Olympic Trials 201 lbs Competition Jul 6 Olian Alexander Las Vegas, Nv SCH Jul 7 Henry Tillman Las Vegas, Nv L 3 -The previous 2 bouts were part of the United States Olympic Box-Offs 201 lbs Competition Oct an unnamed opponent in Finland W *** PROFESSIONAL BOUTS *** 1985 Mar 6 Hector Mercedes Albany, NY TK 1 Apr 10 Trent Singleton Albany, NY TK 1 May 23 Donald Halpin Albany, NJ KO 4 Jun 20 Ricardo Spain Atlantic City, NJ KO 1 Jul 11 John Alderson Atlantic City, NJ TK 2 Jul 19 Larry Sims Poughkeepsie, NY KO 3 Aug 15 Lorenzo Canady Atlantic City, NJ KO 1 Sep 5 Mike Johnson Atlantic City, NJ KO 1 Oct 9 Donnie Long Atlantic City, NJ KO 1 Oct 25 Robert Colay Atlantic City, NJ KO 1 Nov 1 Sterling Benjamin Latham, NY TK 1 Nov 4 -Cus D'Amato died Nov 13 Eddie Richardson Houston, Tx KO 1 Nov 22 Conroy Nelson Albany, NY TK 2 Dec 6 Sammy Scaff New York, NY TK 1 Dec 27 Mark Young Colonie, NY TK 1 1986 Jan 11 David Jaco Albany, NY TK 1 Jan 24 Mike Jameson Atlantic City, NJ TK 5 Feb 16 Jesse Ferguson Troy, NY TK 6 Mar 10 Steve Zouski Uniondale, NY KO 3 May 3 James "Quick" Tillis Glens Falls, NY W 10 May 20 Mitch "Blood" Green New York, NY W 10 Jun 13 Reggie Gross New York, NY TK 1 Jun 28 William Hosea Troy, NY KO 1 Jul 11 Lorenzo Boyd Swan Lake, NY KO 2 Jul 26 Marvis Frazier Glens Falls, NY KO 1 Aug 17 Jose Nino Ribalta Atlantic City TK 10 Sep 6 Alfonso Ratliff Las Vegas, Nv TK 2 Nov 22 Trevor Berbick Las Vegas, Nv TK 2 -WBC Heavyweight Championship of the World 1987 Mar 7 James "Bonecrusher" Smith Las Vegas, Nv W 12 -WBC Heavyweight Championship of the World; WBA Heavyweight Championship of the World May 30 Pinklon Thomas Las Vegas, Nv TK 6 -WBC Heavyweight Championship of the World; WBA Heavyweight Championship of the World Aug 1 Tony Tucker Las Vegas, Nv W 12 -WBC Heavyweight Championship of the World; WBA Heavyweight Championship of the World; IBF Heavyweight Championship of the World Oct 16 Tyrell Biggs Atlantic City, NJ TK 7 -WBC Heavyweight Championship of the World; WBA Heavyweight Championship of the World; IBF Heavyweight Championship of the World Nov 12 James "Quick" Tillis Chicago, Il EX 4 1988 Jan 22 Larry Holmes Atlantic City, NJ TK 4 -WBC Heavyweight Championship of the World; WBA Heavyweight Championship of the World; IBF Heavyweight Championship of the World Mar 21 Tony Tubbs Tokyo, Japan TK 2 -WBC Heavyweight Championship of the World; WBA Heavyweight Championship of the World; IBF Heavyweight Championship of the World Jun 27 Michael Spinks Atlantic City, NJ KO 1 -WBC Heavyweight Championship of the World; WBA Heavyweight Championship of the World; IBF Heavyweight Championship of the World 1989 Feb 25 Frank Bruno Las Vegas, Nv TK 5 -WBC Heavyweight Championship of the World; WBA Heavyweight Championship of the World; IBF Heavyweight Championship of the World Jul 21 Carl "Truth" Williams Atlantic City, NJ TK 1 -WBC Heavyweight Championship of the World; WBA Heavyweight Championship of the World; IBF Heavyweight Championship of the World 1990 Feb 11 James "Buster" Douglas Tokyo, Japan LK 10 -WBC Heavyweight Championship of the World; WBA Heavyweight Championship of the World; IBF Heavyweight Championship of the World Jun 16 Henry Tillman Las Vegas, Nv KO 1 Dec 8 Alex Stewart Atlantic City, NJ TK 1 1991 Mar 18 Donavan "Razor" Ruddock Las Vegas, Nv TK 7 Jun 28 Donavan "Razor" Ruddock Las Vegas, Nv W 12 Jul 19 -Tyson had sex wth Desiree Washington Sep 9 -Tyson was indicted on three counts by an Indiana Grand Jury, including one for the rape of Washington 1992 Feb 10 -Tyson was convicted and was imprisoned; He did not fight from 1992-August 1995 1994 Aug 16 -Tyson signed a contract in a prison visiting room making John Horne and Rory Holloway his official managers; Then, two weeks before Tyson was to be released from prison, he signed an agreement giving Don King 30 percent of all his earnings and Horne and Holloway 10 percent each; In return, Tyson got signing bonuses worth about $35 million from contracts King had negotiated with Showtime and the MGM Grand 1995 Aug 19 Peter McNeeley Las Vegas, Nv WF 1 -Fight Report Nov 4 Buster Mathis Jr. Las Vegas, Nv SCH -This bout was scheduled but postponed; Tyson injured his right thumb in training Dec 16 Buster Mathis Jr. Philadelphia, Pa KO 3 1996 Mar 16 Frank Bruno Las Vegas, Nv TK 3 -WBC Heavyweight Championship of the World Sep 7 Bruce Seldon Las Vegas, Nv TK 1 -WBA Heavyweight Championship of the World; Fight Report Nov 9 Evander Holyfield Las Vegas, Nv LT 11 -WBA Heavyweight Championship of the World; Fight Report 1997 Jun 28 Evander Holyfield Las Vegas, Nv LF 3 -WBA Heavyweight Championship of the World; Fight Report Jun 30 -Tyson issues public apology to Evander Holyfield; The Nevada State Athletic Commission revoked Tyson's boxing license and fined him $3 million for the Holyfield incident 1999 Jan 16 Frans Botha Las Vegas, Nv TK 5 -Fight Report Oct 23 Orlin Norris Las Vegas, Nv NC 1 -Fight Report 2000 Jan 29 Julius Francis Manchester, Eng TK 2 -Fight Report Jun 24 Lou Savarese Glasgow, Scotland TK 1 Oct 20 Andrew Golota Auburn Hills, Mi NC 3 -The initial verdict was "TK 3" but it was changed when Tyson tested positive for illegal substances; Fight Report 2001 Oct 13 Brian Nielson Copenhagen, Denmark TK 7 -Fight Report 2002 Jun 8 Lennox Lewis Memphis, Tn LK 8 -WBC Heavyweight Championship of the World; IBF Heavyweight Championship of the World; IBO Heavyweight Championship of the World 2003 Feb 22 Clifford Etienne Memphis, Tn KO 1 2004 Jul 30 Danny Williams Louisville, Ky LK 4 2005 Jun 11 Kevin McBride Washington, DC LT 6 2020 Nov 28 Roy Jones Jr. Los Angeles, Ca EX 8
Review courtesy of Tracy Callis, Historian, International Boxing Research Organization
