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The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly #11: Mike Tyson
When it comes to boxing, Mike Tyson is the only boxer I have ever paid to watch fight. In fact, he's the only boxer to hold my interest. During the mid to late 80's, I couldn't wait to see his next match, because he absolutely destroyed anyone and everyone to enter the ring with him.
2010 Ringside Boxing Round One #74
The Good:
Iron Mike started his professional boxing career off with 37 consecutive wins. In 1986, knocked out Trevor Berbick to win the WBC Heavyweight Title. Within eleven months, he beat James Smith and Tony Tucker for the WBA and the IBF Heavyweight Titles to unify the division.
The Bad:
By the early 90's, Tyson had encountered several personal distractions: a car accident which sent him to the hospital, marital problems resulting in a divorce, and a street fight that left him with a broken hand.
Then in one of the greatest upsets in boxing history, James "Buster" Douglas knocked Tyson out for the first time in his professional career during the 10th round.
& The Ugly:
Tyson would bounce back to win four fights over the next two years. But it was obvious that he wasn't the same. More personal issues would force him to take an extended vacation from the ring. On February 10th, 1992... exactly twenty-one years ago... Mike Tyson was convicted of raping Desiree Washington and sentenced to six years in prison.
His life has been an extended roller coaster ride. He had a rough childhood, but persevered to become the youngest boxer to hold the WBC, WBA, and IBFHeavyweight Titles. He went to prison, but bounced back to regain a couple of belts. He bit of part off part of Evander Holyfield's ear and filed for bankruptcy, but went on to star in The Hangover and get elected into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Mike Tyson is a human being. We've all had our ups and downs. We've all made mistakes. But not all of us have been the heavyweight champion of the world or tattooed our face.
Okay... it's your turn:
Are you a boxing fan? If so, who's your favorite boxer of all-time?
Happy Sunday and sayonara!More...