Michael Gerard Tyson better known as Mike Tyson is a former professional boxer who fought in the ring from 1985 to 2005. Due to his fierceness, he was nicknamed ‘Iron Mike’ and ‘Kid Dynamite’ early in his career and later as ‘The Baddest Man on the Planet’. He is considered one of the world’s greatest heavyweight boxers and remained an undisputed world heavyweight champion from 1987 to 1990.
Mike has been known for his victories in the ring as well as for his outrageous controversies outside of it which constantly kept him in limelight and under the media’s attention. He has inspired several popular television shows, video games, and movies like the 2008 documentary ‘Tyson’ while he also made cameo appearances in film and television series. Do you know why he went to jail? We’ll give you the details.
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Mike Tyson: Career, Achievements, And Personal Life
At the age of just 18, Mike made his professional debut on March 6, 1985, and had 15 bouts in his first year as a professional. As his career progressed, the quality of his opponents increased, ranging from journeyman fighters and borderline contenders like James Tillis and Marvis Frazier. His winning streak made him the talk of the sporting world as he was billed as the next heavyweight champion.
Among many achievements throughout his career, there are a few that stand out. He holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA, and IBF heavyweight titles. In 1981 and 1982 Tyson won gold medals at the Junior Olympic Games after defeating Kelton Brown. He also holds the Junior Olympic record for the quickest knockout of eight seconds as he won every bout at the Olympics by knockout.
Mike has been married thrice and has seven children with his former spouses. His first marriage was to actress Robin Givens on February 7, 1998, which lasted just a year after she accused him of violence and spousal abuse. He then got married to Monica Turner in 1997 who filed for divorce five years later claiming that he committed adultery. They had two children together – Amir and Ramsey. Tyson wed for the third time to Lakiha ‘Kiki’ Spicer in Las Vegas on June 6, 2009. They have a daughter named Milan and a son Morocco.
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Why Did Tyson Go To Jail And For How Long?
Mike Tyson was convicted in 1992 for the rape of an 18-year-old where he was originally sentenced to 10 years in prison which was later reduced by the judge to six years. However, he was released after serving a sentence of fewer than three years in 1995. He was arrested for the alleged rape of 18-year-old Desiree Washington in July of 1991. Desiree Washington claimed that she was raped by Tyson in an Indianapolis hotel room during the night while Mike denied these allegations and maintained that the sex was completely consensual.
However, Virginia Foster, Tyson’s chauffeur confirmed the state of shock that Desiree was in after the incident, and emergency room physician Thomas Richardson who examined her also confirmed that her physical condition was consistent with rape. Consequently, he was required to register as a Tier II sex offender under federal law of life.
While appearing on ‘Sit Down With Michael Franzese’, Mike confessed that he didn’t want to leave prison after spending three years there. He said, “Listen, I’m going to tell you, I did three years there and I didn’t want to leave. I was hitting my teacher. I had a lady teacher there. She had been there for 15….and that was my level, and I said ‘why do I need to be out?’ I am hanging out with these guys, watching fights…. sometimes you get caught up you know? I got caught up and I didn’t want to leave for a second.” He felt this way because he had gotten used to the ways of prison life and the friends he made during this time are very close to his heart.
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