'IRON' MIKE TYSON @ 50... THE GIFT AND THE CURSE

As Mike Tyson clocks 50 years today, let’s take a brief look at his journey from early days to his rise to stardom, fame and fortunes as well as controversies that tainted his glorious career...

Born Michael Gerard Tyson on June 30, 1966. Aged 2, His father abandoned him, which led to financial crises. He has an elder brother, Rodney and had an elder sister, Denise who died in 1990. In 1982, his mother, Lorna Tyson, died of cancer. Tyson was inspired by boxing legend Muhammad Ali; when he was imprisoned in his younger days Ali visited and guided him to pursue a career in boxing, giving him the direction to embrace his boxing dreams.

CAREER AND RISE TO STARDOM

Tyson won gold medals at the 1981 and 1982 Junior Olympic Games, defeating Joe Cortez in 1981 and beating Kelton Brown in 1982. Brown's corner threw in the towel in the first round. He holds the Junior Olympic record for quickest knockout (8 seconds). He won every bout at the Junior Olympic Games by knockout. Nickname “Iron Mike.” In 1985, he started his professional career against Hector Mercedes in Albany, New York. Tyson knocked him out in one round, by his shear strength, quick fists and defensive skills.

Tyson was given his first title fight against Trevor Berbick for the World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight championship. Tyson won the title by second round TKO, and at the age of 20 years and 4 months became the youngest heavyweight champion in history. In 1990, he overtook Michael Jordan as the highest-paid athlete in the world with $28.6 million earning. But, due to his extravagant life, he was dropped from $300 Million to a bankrupt in 2003, and now has a net worth of $1 Million. The infamous 1997 “Bite Fight,” He bit off part of his opponent Evander Holyfield’s ear, he was disqualified and Holyfield won the match.

Mike Tyson was arrested and imprisoned for 6 years but released after 3 years following allegations by a Miss Black America contestant that Tyson raped her. He lost the title in 1990 the over rape charges. Basketball star, Hakeem Olajuwon claims that during his incarceration, Tyson converted to Islam.

Tyson was inducted by Triple H and Shawn Michaels into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2012.

 Mike Tyson has been married 3 times and has had 8 children.

IN HIS OWN WORDS

EARLY DAYS- "I come from a gang-ridden, drug-ridden, bad neighbourhood," Tyson said about his New York upbringing that saw trainer Cus D'Amato take legal guardianship of him as a 16-year-old when his mother died.

BECOMING YOUNGEST HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION AT 20 YEARS- "I wouldn't be denied because it was me and Cus' dream," he said. "He believed it, I didn't believe it."

BEST FIGHT - "Because of my hard work in training and what I had to overcome, I thought Larry Holmes was my best fight. He was so difficult to hit. You can never hit him with a left hook, his arms were too long."

ON LOSING HIS TITLES AND WINNING STREAK TO BUSTER DOUGLAS- "My feelings were hurt but I didn't take it like other people might take it. I never took those situations personally back then but I knew I disappointed myself. I don't need anybody to address what I do. When it's your fault, it's your fault. I knew I would be champion again, I knew I made a mistake."

ON THE FAMOUS EAR BITING INCIDENCE AGAINST EVANDER HOLYFIELD-

"I was mad that he was head-butting me - I was head-butting him too, but I guess I was mad that he was head-butting me better than I was head-butting him. He had my number, that guy. He stood up to everybody, he was a great fighter.  He overcame a lot of adversity as well, and those are the guys I respect as fighters. I'm sorry, Evander."

WHERE HE RANKED IN BOXING HISTORY- “It's up to the people to decide where I rank in history," he said. "But from what they tell me, it's pretty high."

HONOURS AND RECORDS ACHIEVEMENTS

Mike Tyson is the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight titles at 20 years, 4 months, and 22 days old. He won his first 19 professional bouts by knockout, 12 of them in the first round. He won the WBC title in 1986 after defeating Trevor Berbick by a TKO in the second round. In 1987, Tyson added the WBA and IBF titles after defeating James Smith and Tony Tucker. This made him the first heavyweight boxer to simultaneously hold the WBA, WBC and IBF titles, and the only heavyweight to successively unify them.

 Tyson became the lineal champion when he knocked out Michael Spinks in 91 seconds. Nicknamed "Iron" and "Kid Dynamite" in his early career and later known as "The Baddest Man on the Planet”, Tyson is considered one of the best heavyweights of all time. He was ranked No. 16 on The Ring's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time, and No. 1 in the ESPN.com list of "The hardest hitters in heavyweight history". Sky Sports rated him as "the scariest boxer ever" and described him as "perhaps the most ferocious fighter to step into a professional ring. He has been inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHF) and the World Boxing Hall of Fame (WBHF).

SCORECARDS

58 fights, 50 wins (out of which 44 knockouts,1 disqualification), 6 losses(5 knockouts, 1 disqualification) 2 no contests.