90’s wiki: Mike Tyson the baddest man on the planet
By 1990 Mike Tyson was a household name around the world for all the right reasons. Trading the tough streets of Bed Stuy and Brownsville in Brooklyn for the discipline of the boxing gym, Tyson personified the rags to riches story. After being arrested 38 times by the age of 13 Iron Mike inevitably found his way to a juvenile detention centre. Due of his history of violence and anger he was urged to take up boxing while inside to channel his aggression and immediately showed promise. His natural athleticism and boxing ability were shown to legendary trainer Cus D’Amato who pulled him out of juvie and brought him to his Catskills gym.
D’Amato was not only versed in a plethora of little known boxing techniques but was also extremely experienced in dealing with troubled kids, having turned round the lives of many hoodlums including Rocky Graziano and Floyd Patterson who both became world champions. The transformation from street brawler to accomplished amateur highlighted the skills of both fighter and trainer. D’Amato showed the young Tyson how best to use his short stocky frame and negate the reach disadvantage he would invariably suffer throughout his career as a 5″9 heavyweight. During this time Tyson’s mother passed away and he was legally adopted by Cus D’Amato, the only father figure he had known in his life.
Tyson missed out on the chance to represent the US at the Olympics in 1984 but that would soon be forgotten as he turned pro in March 1985 and blazed through 15 fights in that year winning all by knockout, 11 of those coming in the opening round. Unfortunately in November of that year, just days after his 11th win, Cus D’Amato passed away leaving 19 year old Tyson to all intents and purposes orphaned. Determined to fulfill D’Amato’s dream of training another world heavyweight champion, Tyson was straight back in the ring racking up 12 more wins in 1986 before preparing for a November World Title shot against Jamaican Olympian Trevor Berbick.
Berbick had only been champion for 8 months but was a seasoned heavyweight who had previously fought Larry Holmes and had ended the career of Muhammad Ali with his unanimous decision victory over the legend. Tyson’s speed and power were no respecters of records though and he subsequently demolished Berbick, stunning him at the end of the first round before flooring him twice in the second. Tyson was crowned the youngest ever heavyweight champion at just 20 years and 4 months old and stood by his declaration that he wished to fight the worlds best by taking on 2 more champions the following year.
Iron Mike added the WBA belt to his WBC title after beating ‘Bonecrusher’ Smith in his next fight before knocking out former champion Pinklon Thomas. In only his third defence he became the first heavyweight champion in history to hold all 3 titles at once, after a decision victory over IBF champ Tony Tucker. Tyson continued to clear out the division despite his tender age, successfully defending against legend Larry Holmes and top contenders Tubbs, Spinks and Britain’s own favourite Frank Bruno. By the end of the decade however, his troubles outside of the ring were mounting. A failed marriage to Robin Givens, a punch-up with Mitch Green and dismissal of trainers Kevin Rooney and Teddy Atlas left him alienated, alone and under the control of the less than savoury Don King.
The 90’s would continue as the eighties had ended with the controversy and disruption that had begun to shroud his personal life following him into the ring. It seemed his life had come full circle as the taunts and mocking of his high pitched voice and lisp which had drawn him into many streetfights as a child returned, this time coming from a media desperate to find a chink in his armour. Iron Mike would spend the decade between jail cells, comeback fights and ridiculous money making promotions like WWF wrestling. For half a decade he was ‘the baddest man on the planet’, an undisputed champion and icon of invincibility, immortalised in countless video games, TV shows and films. A product of the tough streets and a victim of a cold society he was arguably the last great heavyweight champion.
Popularity: 100% [?]
Posted: September 11th, 2008 under 90's wiki, Sport, Video.
Tags: 90s, Boxing, Mike Tyson
Comment from Cobra Kai
July 14, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Very, Very sick post bro! Peace!