Tyson, Mike (1966-…), became the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history when he won the World Boxing Council (WBC) version of the title in 1986. Tyson was 20 years old when he won the championship. He became the undisputed champion in 1987 by also winning the World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) versions of the title. Tyson lost the championship in 1990 to Buster Douglas. Tyson had been undefeated in 37 consecutive fights.
Michael Tyson was born on June 30, 1966, in the Brooklyn section of New York City. He began boxing at the age of 13 and turned pro in 1985. Tyson stands 5 feet 111/2 inches (182 centimeters) tall and weighs about 235 pounds (106 kilograms).
From 1992 to 1995, Tyson served three years of a six-year prison sentence for rape. He resumed his boxing career soon after his parole.
In 1996, Tyson defeated Frank Bruno to regain the WBC heavyweight title. Later that year, he gave up the title. He regained the WBA title by defeating Bruce Seldon in 1996. Tyson lost the title later that year to Evander Holyfield. In a return match with Holyfield in 1997, Tyson was disqualified for biting Holyfield’s ear. He was fined $2,980,000, and his boxing license was suspended. His license was restored in 1998. Tyson returned to the ring early in 1999, winning a fight. He then was sent back to jail for having assaulted two people following an automobile accident in 1998. After his release, he resumed his career. In 2002, Tyson lost to defending champion Lennox Lewis in a fight for the WBC heavyweight title (see Lewis, Lennox ). Tyson announced his retirement in 2005 after losing to Irish boxer Kevin McBride.
In 2012 and 2013, Tyson toured the United States in a one-man stage show based on his life. Tyson’s autobiography, Undisputed Truth, was published in 2013.
