Mike Tyson went down a spiral of drugs, women and debt post retirement but has since made a remarkable comeback
Mike Tyson has decided to step inside the ring once again decades after throwing in the towel, showcasing why he was notoriously known as the "baddest man on the planet".
The heavyweight recently revealed that he is now training to take part in a series of four-round exhibition bouts for charity.
The 53-year-old slugger hasn't entered the ring since he was beaten by Kevin McBride in June 2005 -- the final fight of his professional career, but during a recent live Instagram video chat with rapper T.I., he explained how he's getting back in shape and has already begun training with cardio and weights sessions coupled with boxing pad workouts. "I’ve been hitting the mitts for the last week. That’s been tough, my body is really jacked up and really sore from hitting the mitts," Tyson told T.I.
'Iron Mike' competed from 1985 to 2005 and ended his illustrious career with a stunning record of fifty wins, six losses, and two no contests. Forty-four of his victories came by technical knockout.
Tyson earned the name 'Kid Dynamite' early on in his career, thanks to his lightning-fast movements and haymaker uppercuts. That, combined with his trademark black shorts and ankle-cut black boots, made for one of the most intimidating sights the world of boxing has ever seen.
His unparalleled achievements speak for themselves.
Tyson still holds the record for being the youngest Heavyweight World Champion in the history of the sport. He is the only boxer to have ever held every championship title, including the lineal championship, at the same time. He still holds the World Junior Olympic record for the fastest knockout. Furthermore, Tyson was the only Heavyweight to ever hold the title as the number 1 pound-for-pound best fighter.
That said, Iron Mike's career was not bereft of controversy.
In 1992, he was convicted of rape and sentenced to six years in prison, of which he served three. Then, in 1997, he was famously disqualified after biting off a portion of Evander Holyfield’s ear in the midst of a bout.
The 53-year-old recently revealed to The Sun how he once tried to pay a zookeeper $10,000 so he would let him punch a silverback gorilla that appeared to be bullying other apes. It was the late 80s, and Tyson paid to have a New York zoo opened up just so he could take his then-wife Robyn Givens on a romantic, private date.
“When we got to the gorilla cage there was one big silverback gorilla there just bullying all the other gorillas. They were so powerful but their eyes were like an innocent infant,” Tyson told the outlet. “I offered the attendant $10,000 to open the cage and let smash that silverback’s snotbox! He declined.”
Such was the ferocity of one of the greatest boxers to ever grace the sport.
Following his retirement in 2005, Tyson went down a spiral of drug abuse and a series of failed relationships with women. He eventually declared he was bankrupt and millions in debt. He had to fight every day to pay back what he owed -- only this time it was out of the ring.
But the heart of a champion is not one that gives up easily.
Despite his tarnished reputation, Tyson went on to star in the hit comedy 'The Hangover' and staged a marvelous comeback with a nationwide tour that saw him open up about his life's story to jam-packed audiences.
He recently made investments in the highly-popular and lucrative marijuana industry, and with the support of some business partners, he managed to open his very own ranch to grow high-quality strains of THC and CBD. Named 'Tyson Ranch,' the sprawling 420-acre estate aims to implement "cutting-edge technology to advance the research on the health benefits of marijuana.”
Last year, the legendary fighter admitted to spending a staggering $40,000 a month on marijuana.
Tyson has for long believed in the healing properties of the herb, and his ranch works constantly to improve medical research and treatment of the plant. CBD, his main product, has been proven to be an effective anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, antioxidant, and antipsychotic agent.
What's more? Tyson Holistic, the company that operates the ranch, is mainly comprised of veterans. For the heavyweight, taking care of men and women who have served in the armed forces is a top priority.
After engaging in substance abuse following his boxing career, Mike believes marijuana helped him steer away from harder drugs. “It changed his life,” Tyson’s business partner, Rob Hickman, told GQ last year.
And despite all his past glories, Mike Tyson admits he's a much happier man today. He is married to Lakiha "Kiki" Spicer and has a total of eight children.