Top 20 Amazing Facts about Heavyweight Legend Mike Tyson

Top 20 Amazing Facts about Heavyweight Legend Mike Tyson

*Originally published by Ian S on October 2022, Updated by Vanessa R. in September 2023, and updated by Felix in January 2024

Before the who is who in sports made millions of dollars, the hottest athlete on the planet was a young boxing phenom known as “Iron” Mike Tyson. Tyson’s knockout power, which ended fight after fight in seconds, made him a household celebrity among ardent boxing fans and casual sports fans alike.

He is an American former professional boxer and is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time. And it is there that we discover both his most frightful antics and his profound tenderness.

Mike Tyson has garnered more media attention and raised more eyebrows than any other athlete in the world.  On most levels, the mysterious former boxing champion remains a mystery. This article has covered both his greatest highs and his lowest lows.

1. Tyson won gold medals at the 1981 and 1982 Junior Olympic Games

Young Mike Tyson Artwork photo by Slava Ostap – Wikimedia Commons

Tyson won gold medals at the Junior Olympics in 1981 and 1982 while competing as an amateur. He defeated Joe Cortez in 1981 and Kelton Brown in 1982. In the first round, Brown’s team declared defeat.

In 1984, Tyson defeated Jonathan Littles to claim the gold medal at the National Golden Gloves competition in New York. As an amateur, he battled Henry Tillman twice and lost both matches via decision. At the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Tillman won the heavyweight gold medal.

2. Tyson made his professional debut as an 18-year-old

On March 6, 1985, Tyson made his professional debut as an 18-year-old in Albany, New York. He defeated Hector Mercedes via TKO in the first round. In his debut year as a professional, he had 15 fights. Tyson won 26 of his first 28 fights by KO or TKO, with 16 of them coming in the first round.

His opponents steadily improved to journeymen and borderline candidates such as James Tillis, David Jaco, Jesse Ferguson, Mitch Green, and Marvis Frazier. Tyson’s winning streak drew media attention, and he was dubbed “the next great heavyweight champion.

3. He reigned as the undisputed world heavyweight champion from 1987 to 1990

Dorsett the Barnwell with former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson photo by User: Dsettboxer – Wikimedia commons

Tyson is regarded as one of the best heavyweight boxers of all time. Tyson was given the nicknames “Iron Mike” and “Kid Dynamite” in his early career before becoming known as “The Baddest Man on the Planet” later. From 1987 through 1990, he held the undisputed heavyweight title.

12 of Tyson’s first 19 professional victories by knockout came in the opening round. Tyson holds the record for being the youngest boxer to ever win a heavyweight title, taking home his first trophy at the age of 20 years, four months, and 22 days.

He was the only heavyweight to successfully unify the WBA, WBC, and IBF belts in succession. Tyson defeated Michael Spinks in the opening round in 91 seconds to win the lineal championship.

Check out some intriguing facts about the current heavyweight champion.

4. Tyson was the highest-paid athlete in the world in 1990

Picture of Michael Jordan at a basketball game photo by Joshua Massel. – Wikimedia commons

Tyson surpassed Michael Jordan as the highest-paid athlete in the world in 1990, earning $28.6 million.

Tyson received endorsements from Pepsi, Toyota, Nintendo, Kodak, and Syntory Beer at the height of his fame. Tyson has lost several endorsements over the years as a result of legal difficulties and his public image.

5. He refrained from sex for 5 years!

Mike Tyson had no issues with dating or having affairs with women. They appeared to be available to him constantly. He was previously linked to several well-known women, including Naomi Campbell and Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace, in addition to his ex-wife, Robin Givens.

Amazingly, he asserts that he avoided sexual activity for almost five years, not even for self-gratification! The boxer admitted in an interview with Graham Bensinger that he went five years without having sex because close friends and family advised him not to.

Naturally, Tyson made up for this lapse in his sexual behavior with some spectacular antics. He was infamous for womanizing and regularly recalled having numerous interactions with women, some of which were almost publicly witnessed.

6. He once offered to fight a gorilla for $10,000

Photo by Laura Seaman on Unsplash

Tyson seems to have a lifelong interest in animals and fighting which prompted him to pay a zoo employee $10,000 to fight a silverback gorilla. According to Tyson, he and his wife were on a private tour of a New York zoo when he spotted a gorilla who appeared to be tormenting the other animals in its area.

He offered the attendant $10,000 to open the cage and let him crush that silverback’s snot box but the attendant refused.

7. Tyson idolized Muhammad Ali growing up

Muhammad Ali 1971 photo by AP Wirephoto – Wikimedia commons

Tyson grew up idolizing Muhammad Ali. When he was 14 years old, Tyson witnessed Ali lose to Larry Homes in a fight for which Ali had come out of retirement. After his defeat, Tyson called Ali the following day and expressed his sadness. Tyson vowed revenge on Holmes on Ali.

After seven years, Holmes decided to fight Tyson again, who was the favorite. Before the bout, Ali stated to Tyson from ringside, “Remember what you said – get him for me.” The fight was won by Tyson, who cited it as one of his career’s high points.

8. Mike once bit off a chunk of his opponent’s ear

Evander Holyfield photo by Shelka04 – Wikimedia commons

Tyson stands out for his boxing prowess. However, Tyson has also acted outrageously both inside and outside of the ring, which added to his infamy. Consider the instance of ear-biting.

One of the most notorious incidents in boxing history occurred on June 28, 1997, when Mike Tyson bit off a portion of Evander Holyfield’s ear during the Tyson- Holyfield rivalry era. Then he bit him one more.

Tyson’s boxing license was suspended (though it was reinstated a year later), he was fined more than $3 million, and he was disqualified from the fight.

But Holyfield wasn’t the only person whom Mike Tyson would bite over the years. Tensions were high when Mike Tyson and fellow boxer Lennox Lewis showed up to their pre-fight press conference in January 2002. And Tyson immediately pounced at Lewis as the two boxers faced up.

After biting Holyfield five years prior, Tyson once more flashed his teeth. He bit Lewis, leaving a scar on his leg. After their match was postponed, Lewis went on to triumph in their rematch. But Tyson’s lone regret appears to be that he didn’t use more force against his rivals.

9. He owns a Cannabis ranch

Photo by Ryan Lange on Unsplash

Today, Mike Tyson runs a sizable cannabis company. It’s estimated that he makes more than $500,000 a month from his Tyson Ranch enterprise. In addition to quality marijuana strains, sweets, extracts, and CBD products, he also sells a wide range of other things.

In addition, he is developing a 418-acre vacation resort with a marijuana theme that he believes will host a significant music festival and the longest lazy river in the entire globe.

To instruct aspiring farmers in cannabis cultivating techniques, he also wanted to establish Tyson University nearby. At the Cannabis Cup Social in 2018, Tyson Ranch was named “Best New Brand.”

10. He holds an honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters

Concerning universities… Unbelievably, high school dropout Mike Tyson has an honorary doctorate in humane letters. A unique academic curriculum for Tyson was created in 1989 at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio. Dr Arthur E. Thomas, the university president, indicated that this was an effort to encourage young people who idolized Mike Tyson to put their lives first.

Small, historically black Central State University is located in Ohio. It is really difficult to enter. Simply put, this school seeks out individuals who are committed to completing their degrees. Nevertheless, Central State University awarded Mike Tyson and boxing promoter Don King honorary doctorates of humane letters in 1989.

11. He has a soft spot for racing pigeons

Super Festivals, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Even though he has a reputation for being rough, one of the most intriguing things about Mike Tyson is that he has a soft spot for racing pigeons. He paid $100 of his own hard-earned money as a young boy in Brooklyn to purchase a flock that he housed on his roof. In the documentary Taking on Tyson, he said “The first thing I ever loved in my life was a pigeon. I don’t know why… I feel ridiculous trying to explain it,” 

He continued by saying that he got into his first fight at the age of 11, when one of the bullies in his area crept up on the roof, seized one of Tyson’s treasured birds, and cut its head.

12. Tyson didn’t have a calorie deficit 

Another amazing fact about Mike Tyson is that he needed between 3,000 and 4,000 calories each day to fuel his victories in boxing contests.  He would have muesli, milk, and vitamin pills for the morning, chicken breasts and rice for lunch, and steak and spaghetti for dinner. In addition to eating ice cream and cereal between meals, Tyson occasionally drank a smoothie made from six bananas.

13. At his peak, he had an estimated net worth of around $300 million

Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Mike Tyson’s dedication paid off thanks to his victories in the ring. At his peak, his estimated net worth was $300 million. Tyson even reportedly became the highest-paid athlete in the world in 1990, a milestone he repeated in 1996, according to Forbes and The Los Angeles Times.

14. He had tigers as pets

One of the more well-known Mike Tyson facts is that, during the 1990s, he famously bought several tigers with the proceeds from his boxing career. The idea struck him while he was serving a sentence for rape, he claimed on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast.

Afterward, Tyson’s auto dealer said that he was planning to exchange some cars for horses. Tyson asked as to what else he could obtain in exchange for cars, and the dealer listed several animals. Only one stood out, of all animals, it was the lion.

15. He also used his riches to spoil those closest to him

GabboT, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

But Tyson didn’t only spend his cash on exotic animals. A fascinating fact about Mike Tyson is that he used his money to pamper those who were closest to him, including his wives. Tyson famously shelled out $2,000,000 on a 24-carat gold bathtub for one of his wives. Although Tyson had three marriages, two of them ended in divorce, proving that money cannot buy happiness.

16. He earned the Nickname ‘Iron Mike’ Due to His Aggression Dominance

Mike Tyson’s fierce and combative approach in the ring gave him the nickname “Iron Mike” during his illustrious boxing career. Tyson was well-known for his vicious blows and frightening demeanor. He would frequently overwhelm opponents with vicious lunges. During his peak, he exuded an air of invincibility, decisively eliminating opponents. Tyson dominated the heavyweight division in the late 1980s with his unwavering attacking style and rock-solid physique. With his unique blend of technical talent and physical might, he became one of the most thrilling and feared boxers in history, earning him the apt moniker “Iron Mike” in the process.

17. He Became the Youngest Heavy Weight Champion at Twenty Years

Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash

When Mike Tyson defeated Trevor Berbick by TKO in 1986 to win the WBC heavyweight title, he shattered a long-standing record by becoming the youngest-ever heavyweight champion in boxing history at just twenty years. His meteoric rise to glory as a teenager highlighted his prodigious talent and power. Despite his lack of experience, he steamrolled opponents with his aggressive style and speed. By overwhelming Berbick, Tyson staked his claim as potentially the most dangerous heavyweight on the planet. His unprecedented achievement at such a young age reinforced his nickname of ‘Iron Mike‘ and heralded the dawn of a new era in the glamour division of boxing.

18. Mike Served Three Years in Prison for Rape Conviction

Photo by Tim Hüfner on Unsplash

In 1992, at the height of his fame and boxing career, Mike Tyson was convicted of raping an eighteen-year-old woman in an Indianapolis hotel room. Despite maintaining his innocence, Tyson was sentenced to six years in prison, of which he served three. During his prison stint, Tyson adopted a Muslim faith and sought to reform himself. However, his reputation and public image never fully recovered from the damaging rape conviction. Once released in 1995, Tyson returned to professional boxing but was unable to recapture his title or previous level of dominance in the ring. Losses, controversies, and personal issues marred the remainder of his career before his retirement in 2005.

19. He set a Record Winning his First Nineteen Professional Fights By Knockout

When Mike Tyson began his professional boxing career in 1985, he quickly gained notoriety by winning his first nineteen fights exclusively by knockout. This demolition of opponents from the outset of his career set a record that still stands today. With his aggressive style and intimidating punching power, Tyson swiftly overwhelmed all put before him, dispatching most within the first few rounds. No one could withstand his fierce combination of speed, strength, and developing technical skill. By thrilling crowds with his consecutive knockouts, Tyson built his reputation as an explosive young phenom destined for greatness. This unprecedented KO streak generated excitement about his championship potential and cemented his identity as a rising knockout artist. Tyson’s record-setting early career knockouts made clear he was a force to be feared in the heavyweight division.

20. He holds the Record for the Fastest Knockout in Boxing History at Thirty Seconds

Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

One of Mike Tyson’s most incredible achievements was scoring the fastest knockout ever in a heavyweight title fight. When Tyson faced Marvis Frazier for the WBC heavyweight crown in 1986, he needed just thirty seconds to retain his title. Immediately after the opening bell rang, Tyson stormed out and bombarded Frazier with powerful hooks and uppercuts. A devastating right hand sent Frazier crashing to the canvas for the ten-count, ending the match abruptly. Tyson’s awe-inspiring early knockout bested the previous thirty-seven-second record held by Floyd Patterson since 1957. This lightning-quick finish demonstrated Tyson’s legendary punching power and aggressive style. By dispatching an opponent of Frazier’s caliber in a mere half minute, Tyson cemented his reputation as the most dangerous puncher and fearsome heavyweight in boxing history. The 30-second destruction stands as a testament to his unmatched speed and power.

Mike Tyson’s career stands out for his sheer power and ferocity in the boxing ring. Though controversial at times, Tyson demonstrated unbelievable talent, becoming the youngest-ever heavyweight champion. His intimidating style, quick knockouts, and historic milestones cemented his status as one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time. His journey shows how champions are shaped by character, determination, and an undeniable skill for their sport.