Mike Tyson turns 58: Reflections on a turbulent career
2:48 PM EDT, June 30, 2024
Mike Tyson is undoubtedly one of the legends of boxing, but he is also known for sparking various scandals. On Sunday, June 30, the legendary boxer turned 58 years old.
Mike Tyson is a unique character, and his problems began as early as the '90s. In 1991, Tyson was accused of raping Desiree Washington, with whom he spent the morning in a hotel room.
The American boxer never admitted to the crime, but the court didn't believe him, and he ended up behind bars. After three years, he was released from prison for good behavior.
The legendary boxer openly admits to smoking marijuana. Recently, in an interview, he stated that he has been doing it his entire life, even... before stepping into the ring.
It happened before the bout with Andrzej Gołota. "It didn't affect me, but it affected Gołota," Tyson confessed on the "Dan Patrick Show," then burst into laughter.
Tyson caused a scandal in the ring
27 years ago in Las Vegas, Mike Tyson bit off a piece of Evander Holyfield's ear. It was the third round of their rematch (Holyfield won the first one), when Tyson launched a fierce attack. Holyfield withstood the onslaught and, after a moment, delivered a precise punch with his left hand.
There was a clinch, from which "The Real Deal" broke free and started to jump wildly with anger, holding his ear.
The referee stopped the fight and penalized Tyson by taking away points, and shocked fans around the world saw replayed footage of the incident. It turned out that "Iron Mike" simply... bit off a piece of his opponent's ear.
It was his second such behavior during this fight. In the break before the fourth round, he was finally disqualified, and the footage was broadcast on all TV networks worldwide.
How does Tyson view his behavior today? "It was really a crazy time in my life, and I was a madman. Fortunately, I learned to distinguish right from wrong in time. Back then, I wanted to win that fight so badly that nothing else mattered," recalled the controversial boxer, for whom it was the beginning of the end of his career.
