Iron Mike: One hell of a story

Continuing our week long look at fallen sports stars Tuesday's pick is probably the one man that has fallen more often than Didier Drogba. Today JOE looks at Mike Tyson. Just don’t tell him we wrote this.

By Declan Whooley

Perhaps the most fitting man to profile when it comes to fallen sports stars, 'Iron' Mike Tyson has had an extraordinary career. World champion, convicted criminal, millionaire, bankrupt, bitten opponents, lavish tattoos, comebacks, three marriages, eight children and a bi-polar disorder. And I cut out a list the same size. A chequered career doesn’t really do justice to the life and times of Mike Tyson.

Tyson made his debut as a professional boxer in 1985, winning with a first round-knockout in a sign of things to come. In 1988 he defeated Michael Spinks for the world heavyweight championship title. In what was the richest boxing fight of all-time, Tyson beat a previously undefeated Spinks in 91 seconds and his opponent would never fight professionally again.

Around this time Tyson was having problems outside the ring. His first marriage was heading for divorce, he fired his long-term trainer and his bouts were few and far between. Many have attributed his problems to a lack of education. His Wikipedia page has just one sentence on his academic life, which seems generous.

In a result that shocked the world of boxing, he was beaten by Buster Douglas in Tokyo in 1990, a rank outsider at 42/1. The following year he was arrested for the rape of an 18-year-old girl and sentenced to six years, of which he served three. It was thought his hostile and defensive responses in court did not endear him to the jury. In today’s New Zealand papers Tyson reiterates his innocence, which is falling on deaf ears. He is not allowed visit the country with a criminal conviction.

Tyson’s first fight upon his return in 1995 was against the hapless Peter McNeeley. The fight may have just lasted 89 seconds, but it grossed more than US$96 million worldwide. He won the WBC crown that year by beating Frank Bruno and also added the WBA belt.

Tyson finally squared up to Evander Holyfield in December 1996, and the challenger upset the odds to win the bout in the 11th round. Tyson and his camp were unhappy with Holyfield’s tactics, claiming he was head-butting throughout.

The re-match is one of the most famous fights of all time. Besides the ear-bite, Tyson received $30 million and Holyfield $35 million which would remain the biggest fight pay cheques for the next decade. Tyson bit once and the referee docked two points, but stopped the fight at the end of the third when Tyson got toothy for a second time. He was out of boxing for a year and fined $3 million. Coincidentally, that is the same figure Tyson collected while guest appearing at Wrestlemania during that time, which worked out pretty well.

Even his first fight back after the Holyfield fight was not plain sailing, with South African Francois Botha accusing his victor of trying to break his arms during a tie-up during the fight. Trouble was never far away and in 1999 he was sentenced to 12 months jail for assaulting two motorists at a traffic accident. He served six months, won a number of fights and then tested positive for marijuana after failing to take a pre-fight drug test.

After taunting world champion Lennox Lewis by saying “I want to eat your heart, I want to eat your children” – you won't see that on Masterchef – he was duly knocked out by the English heavyweight in what was the highest grossing fight of all time in 2002.

He only fought three times after that, with his final bout a rather inglorious defeat to the ‘Clones Cyclone’ Kevin McBride in 2006. McBride has fought eight times since, winning just twice. Not so much a cyclone, more of a gentle breeze.

Since finishing in the ring he has promoted anything he can get his hands on due to his bankruptcy, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, been arrested for a fight in LA Airport (God help the other guy), been inducted to the International Boxing and WWE Hall of Fame and appeared in The Hangover. He also tragically buried one of his daughters in 2009 after she got tangled on a cord on an exercise machine.

Uneventful is one word you would not use to describe Mike Tyson. Just when you think he cannot get any stranger, he announces he wants to be the next Billy Elliott. We genuinely don't know what to expect next.