My father’s generation had Muhammed Ali. My generation there was no more popular or feared boxer than ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson. Tyson entered the professional boxing arena in 1985 against Hector Mercedes and spent the next five years laying waste to the heavyweight division.
Tyson was perhaps the most feared man to ever lace up in the boxing ring and won his first thirty-seven consecutive bouts, with only four coming via decision and the rest knockout of technical knockout. He had a intensity and knockout power that had never before been seen in boxing.
Tyson boxed for twenty years before retiring in 2005 following consecutive losses to Danny Williams and Kevin McBride. Tyson amassed a 50-6-2 lifetime record in boxing with forty four wins by knockout.
Celebrate the man’s historic career by reliving his ten fastest knockouts:
At only 20 years of age, Mike Tyson became the youngest heavyweight boxing champion of the world.
Born in 1966, Mike’s family was forced to move to the Brownsville section of Brooklyn – a tough neighborhood plagued by crime. But this environment was the crucible that would begin to mold and form Mike into a formidable world-class fighter. As a kid, he was small and shy, which made him a target for bullies. Mike fought back, creating his own style of street fighting.
However, a string of bad behavior landed him in an upstate reform school, where a counselor and amateur boxing champion taught Mike the basics of boxing. He took to it like a fish to water, and began to thrive academically as well. It was at this point when he was introduced to legendary boxing manager Cus D’Amato, who saw Mike’s potential and took him under his wing. Though their association began as trainer and boxer it quickly evolved into a father-son relationship. D’Amato set a rigorous training schedule for him, and instilled a discipline in Mike that had him turning professional in 1985 at age 18. His massive strength and fast, hammering fists earned him the nickname Iron Mike, which followed him throughout his professional boxing career. The following year – with a 22-0 record already under his belt – Mike fought his way to being the youngest world heavyweight champ in world history.
source: miketysonlive.com
