Mike Tyson

IBHoF Bio

Name: Mike Tyson
Alias: Iron
Birth Name: Michael Gerard Tyson
Hometown: Henderson, Nevada, USA
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 178cm
Reach: 180cm
Pro Boxer: Record
Amateur Boxer: Record

• Trainers: Cus D'Amato (1979-1985), Kevin Rooney (1982-1988), Aaron Snowell (1989-1990), Richie Giachetti (1990-1991, 1997), Jay Bright (1995-1996, 2000-2001), Tommy Brooks (1999-2001), Ronnie Shields (2002), Freddie Roach (2003-2004), Jeff Fenech (2005)
• Managers: Bill Cayton and Jim Jacobs (1985-88), Rory Holloway and John Horne (1988-1997), Shelly Finkel (1999-2005)
• Promoters: Don King Productions (1988-1998), America Presents Boxing (1998-2001)
• Mike Tyson Gallery

Amateur Highlights

Tyson with Cus D'Amato

1981 United States Junior Olympic Heavyweight Gold Medalist

Tyson vs. Henry Tillman at the 1984 U.S. Olympic Trials.

• Amateur Record: 48-6 (38 KO)
  • 5 of 6 amateur losses were considered controversial.
  • Only stoppage loss as an amateur was at age 16 against Al Evans who was 27.
• 1981 United States Junior Olympic Heavyweight Champion. Results:
  • Jesus Esparza - RSC 1
  • Randy Wesley - RSC 1
  • Joe Cortez - RSC 1
• 1981 Ernie Bennett - L 3
• 1982 United States Junior Olympic Heavyweight Champion. Results:
  • Tito Llanes - RSC 1
  • Jonathan Littles - RSC 2
  • Don Cozad - RSC 1
  • Kelton Brown - RSC 1
• 1982 U.S. Amateur Championships. Results:
  • Al Evans - L RSC 3
• 1983 National Golden Gloves Heavyweight Finalist. Results:
  • Ronald Williams - RSC 1
  • Andrew Stokes - RSC 3
  • Mike Bardwell - RSC 1
  • Warren Thompson - W 3
  • Craig Payne - L 3
• 1983 U.S. Amateur Championships. Results:
  • Kimmuel Odum - L DQ 2
• 1983 Ohio State Fair Heavyweight Champion. Results:
  • Jerry Goff - KO 1
  • Olian Alexander - W/O
• 1983 United States Under-19 Heavyweight Champion, defeated Mark Scott by RSC 1.
• 1984 United States Under-19 Heavyweight Champion, defeated Orbit Pough by KO 1.
• 1984 National Golden Gloves Heavyweight Champion. Results:
  
  • Derek Isaman - W 3
  • Richard Johnson - RSC 3
  • Johnny Williams - RSC 1
  • Rocky Pepeli - RSC 2
  • Jonathan Littles - RSC 1
• 1984 United States Olympic Trials Heavyweight Finalist. Results:
  • Kelton Brown - KO 1
  • Avery Rawls - W 3
  • Henry Milligan - RSC 2
  • Henry Tillman - L 3
• 1984 United States Olympic Box-offs. Results:
  • Olian Alexander - RSC 1
  • Henry Tillman - L 3
• 1984 Tammer Tournament Heavyweight Champion in Tampere, Finland. Results:
  • Istvan Szikora (Hungary) - W 3 (3-2)
  • Haakan Brock (Sweden) - W 3 (5-0)

Preceded by: Olian Alexander

National Golden Gloves Heavyweight Champion 1984

Succeeded by: Jerry Goff

Professional Record

Tyson wearing the WBA, WBC, and IBF heavyweight title belts.

Tyson vs. Trevor Berbick

Tyson vs. James Smith

Tyson vs. Pinklon Thomas

Tyson vs. Tony Tucker

Tyson vs. Tyrell Biggs

Tyson vs. Larry Holmes

Tyson vs. Tony Tubbs

Tyson vs. Michael Spinks

Tyson vs. Frank Bruno I

Tyson vs. Carl Williams

• 11 opponents (9 by KO) beaten in world championship bouts.
• Has a record of 12-4 (10 KO) in world title fights.
• Has a record of 3-2 (3 KO) in lineal title fights.
• Has a record of 11-4-0-1 (9 KO) against former or current world titlists:
  • Won against Alfonzo Ratliff, Trevor Berbick, James Smith, Pinklon Thomas, Tony Tucker, Larry Holmes, Tony Tubbs, Michael Spinks, Frank Bruno (twice), and Bruce Seldon.
  • Lost against James Douglas, Evander Holyfield (twice), and Lennox Lewis.
  • No Contest against Orlin Norris.
• Has a record of 3-4 (3 KO) against former or current lineal titlists:
  • Won against Alfonzo Ratliff, Larry Holmes, and Michael Spinks.
  • Lost against James Douglas, Evander Holyfield (twice), and Lennox Lewis.
• Has a record of 4-1 (4 KO) in fights outside his native United States.

International Boxing Hall of Fame Record

• Has a record of 2-3 (2 KO) against International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees:
  • Won against Larry Holmes and Michael Spinks.
  • Lost against Evander Holyfield (twice) and Lennox Lewis.

Year-By-Year Record

• 1985: 15(15)-0
• 1986: 13(11)-0
• 1987: 4(2)-0
• 1988: 3(3)-0
• 1989: 2(2)-0
• 1990: 2(2)-1(1)
• 1991: 2(1)-0
• 1992-1994: Did not fight (served prison sentence)
• 1995: 2(1)-0
• 1996: 2(2)-1(1)
• 1997: 0-1
• 1998: Did not fight (suspended boxing license)
• 1999: 1(1)-0-0-1
• 2000: 2(2)-0-0-1
• 2001: 1(1)-0
• 2002: 0-1(1)
• 2003: 1(1)-0
• 2004: 0-1(1)
• 2005: 0-1(1)

World Titles

• (2) WBC Heavyweight Title (1986-1990; 9 defenses, 1996; 0 defenses)
• (2) WBA Heavyweight Title (1987-1990; 8 defenses, 1996; 0 defenses)
• IBF Heavyweight Title (1987-1990; 6 defenses)

Unified & Undisputed Titles

• (2) Unified Heavyweight Title (1987-1990; WBC, WBA, 1996; WBC, WBA)
• Undisputed Heavyweight Title (1987-1990; WBC, WBA, IBF)

The Ring Magazine Titles

• World Heavyweight Title (1988-1990)

Lineal Titles

• Lineal Heavyweight Title (1988-1990)

Awards & Recognition

• The Ring Magazine Prospect of the Year (1985)
• (2) The Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year (1986, 1988)
• The Ring Magazine Round of the Year (1988; 1st round vs. Michael Spinks)
• (4) The Ring Magazine Event of the Year (1995, 1997, 1998, 2002)
• The Ring Magazine Fight of the Year (1996 vs. Evander Holyfield)
• (2) Boxing Writers Association of America Fighter of the Year (1986, 1988)
• KO Magazine Fighter of the Year (1986)
• (2) KO Magazine Round of the Year (1989; 1st round vs. Frank Bruno, 1990; 8th round vs. James Douglas)
• Named the 19th greatest boxer of the last 50 years by The Ring Magazine in 1996.
• Named the 4th greatest heavyweight of all-time by International Boxing Digest in 1997.
• Named the 14th greatest heavyweight of all-time by The Ring Magazine in 1998.
• Named the 72nd greatest boxer of the last 80 years by The Ring Magazine in 2002.
• Named the 16th greatest puncher of all-time by The Ring Magazine in 2003.
• Named the 13th greatest heavyweight of all-time by the International Boxing Research Organization in 2006.
• Named the 50th greatest boxer of all-time by ESPN in 2007.
• Named the 9th greatest heavyweight of all-time by a panel of experts in The Ring Magazine in 2017.
• Named the 11th greatest heavyweight of all-time by the International Boxing Research Organization in 2019.

Notes

• Started boxing at age 12.
• Youngest World Heavyweight Champion of all-time at 20 years, 4 months and 23 days.
• Won the HBO-sponsored Heavyweight World Series (1986-1987).
• First and only boxer in history to unify all three world titles at heavyweight.
• First and only boxer in history to defend all three world titles at heavyweight.
• Fourth boxer in history to unify all three world titles in a weight division (Marvin Hagler, Michael Spinks, Donald Curry).
• Fifth boxer in history to hold all three world titles in a weight division (Marvin Hagler, Michael Spinks, Donald Curry, Lloyd Honeyghan).
• Ranked #1 pound-for-pound by The Ring Magazine from 1989 until February 1990.
• Didn't box from 1992 until 1994 while servicing a prison sentence for rape.
• Didn't box in 1998 while his boxing license was suspended for biting Evander Holyfield's ears in their 1997 rematch.
• Declared bankruptcy in 2003 despite having earned over $300 million during his career.
• Announced his retirement in the ring in 2005 after retiring on his stool vs. Kevin McBride.

Live Gates

• The Nevada State Athletic Commission maintains a list of Nevada's top 35 largest grossing boxing gates. Tyson's placements:
  • 11. (06/28/1997) L DQ3 Evander Holyfield (MGM Grand) $14,277,200
  • 12. (11/09/1996) L TKO11 Evander Holyfield (MGM Grand) $14,150,700
  • 13. (08/19/1995) W DQ1 Peter McNeeley (MGM Grand) $13,965,600
  • 22. (03/16/1996) W TKO3 Frank Bruno (MGM Grand) $10,673,700

Pay-Per-View History

• 1. (06/27/1988) W KO1 Michael Spinks "Once and For All" (King Vision PPV) 700,000 buys
• 2. (03/18/1991) W TKO7 Donovan Ruddock "The Fight of the Year" (Showtime PPV) 957,000 buys
• 3. (06/28/1991) W UD12 Donovan Ruddock "The Rematch" (Showtime PPV) 1,250,000 buys
• 4. (08/19/1995) W DQ1 Peter McNeeley "He's Back" (Showtime PPV) 1,550,000 buys and $63,000,000 in revenue
• 5. (03/16/1996) W TKO3 Frank Bruno "The Championship: Part 1" (Showtime PPV) 1,370,000 buys
• 6. (09/07/1996) W TKO1 Bruce Seldon "The Championship: Part 2" (Showtime PPV) 1,150,000 buys
• 7. (11/09/1996) L TKO11 Evander Holyfield "Finally" (Showtime PPV) 1,590,000 buys and $79,000,000 in revenue
• 8. (06/28/1997) L DQ3 Evander Holyfield' "The Sound and the Fury" (Showtime PPV) 1,990,000 buys and $100,000,000 in revenue
• 9. (01/16/1999) W KO5 Frans Botha "Tyson-Botha" (Showtime PPV) 750,000 buys
• 10. (10/20/2000) NC2 Andrew Golota "Showdown in Motown" (Showtime PPV) 450,000 buys
• 11. (10/13/2001) W RTD6 Brian Nielsen "Tyson-Nielsen" (Showtime PPV simulcast) 40,000 buys
• 12. (06/08/2002) L KO8 Lennox Lewis "Lewis-Tyson Is On" (HBO/Showtime PPV) 1,970,000 buys and $112,000,000 in revenue
• 13. (02/22/2003) W KO1 Clifford Etienne "Back to Business" (Showtime PPV simulcast) 100,000 buys
• 14. (07/30/2004) L KO4 Danny Williams "Return for Revenge" (Showtime PPV) 150,000 buys
• 15. (06/11/2005) L TKO6 Kevin McBride "Tyson-McBride" (Showtime PPV) 250,000 buys
• Totals (approximate): 14,267,000 buys and $545,000,000 in revenue

Mike Tyson's World Tour

"Mike Tyson's World Tour," a series of four-round exhibitions bouts, was announced on September 28, 2006. Tyson said he anticipated taking the show to Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. "Mike Tyson's World Tour" was shades of the 1930's exhibition tour by former World Heavyweight Champion Jack Dempsey.

On October 21, 2006, Tyson made the first and only stop of his exhibition tour in Youngstown, Ohio. Tyson and Corey Sanders boxed four two and ½ minute rounds. Tyson weighed 241½ lbs, while Sanders weighed 292½ lbs. Both boxers wore t-shirts, and Sanders wore headgear. Tyson dropped Sanders in the first round, but he didn't go for the knockout when Sanders got up. Later in the round, Tyson held Sanders up after landing another hard punch. The fans booed throughout the match. Promoter Sterling McPhearson said afterwards, "I don't know what people were looking for. We weren't trying to fool anyone or pull the wool over anyone's eyes. This was an exhibition. People boo at real fights... this isn't about him beating anybody up."

Preceded by: Trevor Berbick	WBC Heavyweight Champion 1986 Nov 22 – 1990 Feb 11	Succeeded by: James Douglas
Preceded by: James Smith	WBA Heavyweight Champion 1987 Mar 7 – 1990 Feb 11	Succeeded by: James Douglas
Preceded by: Tony Tucker	IBF Heavyweight Champion 1987 Aug 1 – 1990 Feb 11	Succeeded by: James Douglas
Preceded by: Frank Bruno	WBC Heavyweight Champion 1996 Mar 16 – 1996 Sep 24 Vacated	Succeeded by: Lennox Lewis
Preceded by: Bruce Seldon	WBA Heavyweight Champion 1996 Sep 7 – 1996 Nov 9	Succeeded by: Evander Holyfield