Boxing Perspective: Mike Tyson

Roy Jones junior faces Felix Trinidad this weekend at Madison Square Garden, and according to Setanta presenter Steve Bunce, if Jones wins this contest he will face the winner of Tyson vs Holyfield 3. “It is going to happen!” Bunce insisted on Saturday.

A Tyson – Holyfield rubber match is a mouth-watering prospect for any boxing fan. So I thought it was worthy of a short series of articles starting this week with a snap-shot of Mike Tyson. Part two will provide a look at Evander Holyfield and part three will look at the Tyson vs. Holyfield fights.

“Iron” Mike Tyson has been called many things; insecure, emotionally out of control and a complicated, difficult man to understand. He went from being the richest, best known boxer in the world to becoming a sad, misunderstood and seemingly victimised individual with, reportedly, a number of debts. The ‘bad-boy’ turned ‘sad-boy’ has rarely been out of the news, racking up a string of allegations over the years.

Today, Tyson, who said in his prime, “I’m here to entertain the people”, may ‘entertain‘ once more as it’s rumoured that he will again face arch-rival Evander Holyfield.

Here, in the first of three short articles, we remind ourselves of the ‘highs and lows’ of “Iron” Mike.

Michael Gerard Tyson was born on June 30, 1966. Brought up by his mother, he lived in Brownsville, Brooklyn, said to be one of the toughest neighbourhoods in New York. Getting involved with street gangs, the young Tyson clocked up a number of arrests in his early years and was finally sent to Tryon School for Boys. It was at this school that he was first introduced to boxing when he joined a scheme for the sport which was run by the school counsellor. That was a turning point for the 13 year old.

For five years, Tyson thrived under trainer Cus D’Amato until his D’Amato’s death in 1985. Tyson’s professional debut came on 6 March, 1985 when, aged just 18 years old, he defeated Hector Mercedes with a first round knockout.

Tyson won his first 19 fights, including amateur, by KO when he was given a shot at a title and in 1986, became the youngest heavyweight champion in the history of boxing – knocking out Trevor Berbick in round two. Tyson dedicated the fight to D’Amato.

Soon after the well-publicised split with wife Robin Givens, Don King stepped in to manage Tyson. That was the end of D’Amato’s ’Team Tyson’ and “Iron” Mike soon became distracted by life outside the ring.

In 1990 he fought a less than confident Buster Douglas, but Tyson looked lethargic and Douglas knocked him out. After a string of allegations and ‘bad’ behaviour, Tyson was arrested in 2002 and spent the next three years in prison.

King and Tyson split after a dispute over money.

In November 1996, Tyson faced Evander Holyfield for the first time and lost by TKO end of round 11. But perhaps the most memorable fight was that of Holyfield vs. Tyson II in June, 1997. Who could forget the ear-biting incident? Referee Mills Lane stopped the fight at the end of the third round when Tyson was disqualified and then ordered to pay a substantial amount of money in fines.

In June 2002, his last title fight, Tyson was knocked out by Lennox Lewis. Some say that he wanted to be knocked out – to be ‘freed’ from boxing and afterwards, Tyson admitted “I just don’t have it in me no more”.

But debt forced him to fight again and in 2003 he beat Clifford Etienne in the first round. Soon afterwards, Tyson filed for Bankruptcy.

In June 2004, he fought popular Brit Danny Williams, suffering a fourth round defeat. This was “Iron” Mike’s fifth loss of his career and nd he fought just once more before quitting the sport in June 2005.

Mike Tyson – the ‘bad boy of boxing’ boasts a career that spans 18 years of 58 fights and 50 wins, 44 by way of knockout, 6 losses and 2 no-contests. An impressive record and perhaps the most well-known of boxers – but also partly for the wrong reasons. Sadly, Tyson continues to be in the public eye for his ‘bad behaviour’ and is currently awaiting decision on his most recent arrest for possession of drugs and driving under the influence.

Holyfield vs. Tyson III ? Jury’s out on that one!