Mike Tyson: The Complete Biography of Boxing's Youngest Heavyweight Champion – From Brooklyn Streets to $400M Fortune, Prison, Comeback and 2025 Legacy

What elevates Mike Tyson from fighter to eternal icon? It's the perfect storm of Brooklyn ferocity, D'Amato discipline, and unyielding resilience – a narrative where a 13-year-old juvenile delinquent with 38 arrests weighs 200 lbs at 5'10", wins the 1985 Junior Olympic gold, and captures the WBC title in 1986 before turning 20.

The "Mike Tyson biography" searches reflect a saga born from the crack epidemics of Brownsville – mother Lorna Smith a single teen mom, father Jimmy Kirkpatrick absent, stepfather Eddie Tyson the namesake – and Mike's first fight at 10 against a bully, leading to Bobby Stewart's mentorship and Cus D'Amato's Catskill sanctuary.

Born June 30, 1966, in Brooklyn's Brownsville – a crack-infested warzone where Tyson's mother Lorna Mae Smith (16 at birth) raised him alone after father Jimmy Kirkpatrick fled – Mike was a 200-lb 5'10" bully by 10, arrested 38 times by 13 for theft and fights. At 12, a pigeon-stealing incident led to Tryon School for Boys, where counselor Bobby Stewart introduced boxing. By 14, Tyson met Cus D'Amato in Catskill, NY – the trainer who housed him, drilled "fear is your enemy," and turned the delinquent into a phenom. Amateur record: 24-4 (20 KOs), including 1984 Junior Olympic gold. Family: Mother Lorna died 1982 (cancer); stepmother Camille Ewald became mother figure. First pro purse: $500 vs Hector Mercedes (1985 TKO Rd1).

Tyson debuted March 6, 1985, vs Hector Mercedes (TKO Rd1, purse $500) – 18 years old, managed by D'Amato. 1985: 15 wins (14 KOs), including KO vs Donnie Long (Rd1), UD vs Lorenzo Caneles. D'Amato died November 4, 1985 (pneumonia); Kevin Rooney took over. 1986: 5 wins, culminating November 22 vs Trevor Berbick (TKO Rd2, purse $1.5M) – youngest heavyweight champ at 20 years, 4 months, 22 days. Record: 23-0 (21 KOs). Trivia: Berbick fight purse $1.5M – bought first house.

1987: Unification vs James "Bonecrusher" Smith (UD, purse $2M) – WBA title; vs Tony Tucker (UD, purse $1.5M) – undisputed (WBC, WBA, IBF, lineal). Defenses: vs Larry Holmes (TKO Rd4, 1988, purse $3M); vs Michael Spinks (KO Rd1, 1988, purse $10M) – biggest upset fear. 1989: vs Frank Bruno (TKO Rd5, purse $4M). Record: 37-0 (33 KOs). 1990: vs Buster Douglas (KO Rd10, purse $7M) – biggest upset in boxing history (Douglas 42-1 underdog). Douglas purse $1.5M; Tyson $7M.

1991: vs Razor Ruddock I (UD, purse $6M), II (TKO Rd7, purse $6M). February 14, 1992: Rape conviction (Indianapolis, Desiree Washington) – 6 years, served 3 (1992–1995). Released March 8, 1995 (parole). Purse lost: $30M+ potential fights. Family: Married Robin Givens 1988 (divorced 1989, domestic violence); Monica Turner 1997 (divorced 2003, 2 children).

1995: vs Peter McNeeley (DQ Rd1, purse $7M) – "Bite Fight" hype. 1996: vs Frank Bruno II (TKO Rd3, purse $10M); vs Bruce Seldon (KO Rd1, purse $12M) – WBA title. 1997: vs Evander Holyfield I (TKO Rd11, purse $30M); II (DQ Rd3, purse $30M) – ear-biting incident, $3M fine, license revoked. 1999: vs Francois Botha (KO Rd5, purse $8M). 2000: vs Julius Francis (KO Rd2, purse $5M); vs Lou Savarese (TKO Rd1, purse $5M). 2001: vs Brian Nielsen (TKO Rd7, purse $3M). 2002: vs Lennox Lewis (KO Rd8, purse $17M) – final major fight. Record: 50-5 (44 KOs). 2003: vs Clifford Etienne (KO Rd1, purse $5M) – last win; vs Danny Williams (KO Rd4, purse $2M) – retirement announced.

2003: Retirement after 58 fights, $400M+ earned but $23M debt. 2006: Bankruptcy filing. Addiction: Cocaine/heroin battles 1990s–2000s; rehab 2005. Family tragedies: Daughter Exodus died 2009 (treadmill accident, age 4). 2010: Sober, autobiography Undisputed Truth (Broadway show 2013). 2015: The Hangover cameos. 2020: Exhibition vs Roy Jones Jr. (draw, purse $2.5M). 2024: Exhibition vs Jake Paul (loss UD, purse $20M, Netflix PPV 65M viewers). 2025: Net worth $10–$30M (cannabis brand Tyson 2.0 $500M valuation, podcast Hotboxin' 5M+ downloads). Trivia: 2025 podcast episode with Fury on "addiction comebacks" – 2M views.

1. Fear is Your Greatest Adversary: D'Amato's mantra – "Fear is like fire; it can cook for you or it can burn you down" (Tyson quote, 1985).
2. Mentors Make Legends: Cus D'Amato's Catskill gym – "He gave me discipline when I had none" (Undisputed Truth 2013).
3. Rise After Falls: 1990 Douglas loss to 1996 Holyfield win – "Every defeat is a setup for a comeback" (ESPN 1996).
4. Family is the Anchor: 7 children, wife Lakiha Spicer since 2009 – "They saved me from myself" (Hotboxin' 2020).
5. Pressure is Power: Peek-a-boo style vs Spinks – "Speed kills, but power pays the bills" (The Ring 1988).
6. Redemption is Real: Prison 1992–1995 to sobriety 2005 – "I lost everything to find myself" (Forbes 2010).
7. Legacy Beyond the Ring: $400M earned, Tyson 2.0 cannabis $500M valuation – "I'm a businessman now" (2025 interview).