However, before Tyson could step into the ring with Holyfield, he would be accused and convicted of raping an 18-year-old beauty pageant contestant in an Indianapolis hotel room. In 1990, in what was thought to be a warmup fight for his much-anticipated bout with Holyfield, Tyson was stunned by 40-to-1 underdog James 'Buster' Douglas.ĭouglas would promptly lose his titles to Holyfield, rendering a rematch pointless, but Tyson got back on the winning track with three straight knockouts and a unanimous decision victory over Donovan Ruddock in their rematch. He steamrolled over lesser opponents in the late 1980s, but his one-year marriage to actress Robin Givens ended with allegations of abuse against Tyson.
Tyson was eventually enrolled at the Tryon School for Boys in Johnstown, New York, where a corrections officer named Bobby Stewart introduced him to boxing and legendary trainer Cus D'Amato (pictured at a House hearing on boxing), who would become Tyson's legal guardian He was eventually enrolled at the Tryon School for Boys in Johnstown, New York, where a corrections officer named Bobby Stewart introduced him to boxing and legendary trainer Cus D'Amato, who would become Tyson's legal guardian.
'Mike had the fear that if he screwed this up, he would end up back in his old neighborhood or be locked up.'Īnd Tyson had reason to fear his former life.Ībandoned by his father at birth, and orphaned at 16 when his mother passed away, Tyson grew up in Brooklyn's rough Brownsville neighborhood in the 1970s and had the physical and emotional scars to prove it.Īccording to several accounts, Tyson was targeted for his short stature and his lisp at a young age, and he responded by getting arrested 38 times by age 13.
'He had an anxiety problem where he would be in despair with anxiety of not feeling good enough or not wanting to screw it up,' Gonzalez said. In addition to rage and sex, Tyson's pre-fight routine was also defined by intense anxiety and sorrow. Tyson's one-year marriage to actress Robin Givens (left) ended with allegations of abuse against the heavyweight champion