Tyson, small and shy, was often the target of bullying. To combat this, young Michael began developing his own style of street fighting, and graduated from this to criminal activity. His gang, known as the Jolly Stompers, assigned him to clean out cash registers while older members held victims at gunpoint. He was only 11 at the time. He frequently ran into trouble with police over his petty criminal activities, and by the age of 13 he had been arrested more than 30 times.
Tyson's bad behavior landed him in the Tryon School for Boys, a reform school in upstate New York. At Tryon, Tyson met counselor Bob Stewart, who had been an amateur boxing champion. Tyson wanted Stewart to teach him how to use his fists. Stewart reluctantly agreed, on the condition that Mike would stay out of trouble and work harder in school. Previously classified as learning disabled, Mike managed to raise his reading abilities to the seventh-grade level in a matter of months. He also became determined to learn everything he could about boxing, often slipping out of bed after curfew to practice punches in the dark.In 1980, Stewart felt he had taught Tyson all he knew. He introduced the aspiring boxer to legendary boxing manager Constantine "Cus" D'Amato, who had a gym in Catskill, New York. D'Amato was known for taking personal interest in promising fighters, even providing them room and board in the home he shared with companion Camille Ewald. He had handled the careers of several successful boxers, including Floyd Patterson and Jose Torres, and he immediately recognized Tyson's promise as a heavyweight contender, telling him, "If you want to stay here, and if you want to listen, you could be the world heavyweight champion someday." Tyson agreed to stay.
The relationship between D'Amato and Tyson was more than that of a professional trainer and a boxer—it was also one of a father and son. D'Amato took Tyson under his wing, and when the 14-year-old was paroled from Tryon in September 1980, he entered into D'Amato's full-time custody. D'Amato set a rigorous training schedule for the young athlete, sending him to Catskill High School during the day and training in the ring every evening. D'Amato also entered Tyson in amateur boxing matches and "smokers," or non-sanctioned fights, in order to teach the teen how to deal with older opponents.
Tyson's life seemed to be looking up, but in 1982 Mike suffered several personal losses. That year, Tyson's mother died of cancer. "I never saw my mother happy with me and proud of me for doing something," he later told reporters. "She only knew of me as being a wild kid running the streets, coming home with new clothes that she knew I didn't pay for. I never got a chance to talk to her or know about her. Professionally, it has no effect, but it's crushing emotionally and personally." Around this same Tyson was also expelled from Catskill High for his erratic, and often violent, behavior.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.
Mike 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.Mike 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 Mike Tyson was disqualified and banned for biting a chunk out of Evander Holyfield's ear.
In 1999 Mike 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.Mike Tyson Biography News Profile Relationships Photo Wallpaper.
Mike Tyson Biography News Profile Relationships Photo Wallpaper.
Mike Tyson Biography News Profile Relationships Photo Wallpaper.
Mike Tyson Biography News Profile Relationships Photo Wallpaper.
Mike Tyson Biography News Profile Relationships Photo Wallpaper.