Mike Tyson

Michael Gerard Tyson, born on June 30, 1966, is widely recognized as one of the greatest boxers in history. From 1985 to 2005, he dominated the heavyweight division with his incredible power and ferocity. Tyson earned his place in the record books as the youngest heavyweight champion of all time, having won the title at the tender age of 20 years, four months, and 22 days.

During his early years, Tyson won his first 19 professional fights by knockout, with 12 of those coming in the first round. He clinched the WBC title in 1986, stopping Trevor Berbick in just two rounds. He went on to add the WBA and IBF titles to his collection in 1987 after defeating James Smith and Tony Tucker, becoming the first heavyweight to hold all three titles simultaneously.

In 1988, Tyson became the lineal champion, knocking out Michael Spinks in a stunning 91 seconds of the first round. He continued his reign by successfully defending his titles nine times, with notable victories over boxing legends such as Larry Holmes and Frank Bruno.

However, in 1990, Tyson suffered a shock defeat at the hands of the underdog Buster Douglas, who knocked him out in the tenth round. Though Tyson attempted to regain his titles, he lost to Holyfield in 1996 in one of the most infamous fights in boxing history. Tyson twice defeated Donovan Ruddock in 1991, but was forced to withdraw from a match against Evander Holyfield due to a rib injury.

In 1992, Mike Tyson's life took a turn for the worse when he was convicted of rape and sentenced to six years in prison. Despite maintaining his innocence, he was released on parole after serving three years. After his release in 1995, Tyson began his comeback to boxing.

In 1996, Tyson won the WBC and WBA titles after defeating Frank Bruno and Bruce Seldon. His victory over Bruno made him one of only six boxers in history to have regained the heavyweight championship after losing it. However, he was stripped of the WBC title that same year.

In 1997, Tyson fought Evander Holyfield in a highly anticipated rematch. The fight ended in controversy when Tyson was disqualified for biting Holyfield's ears.

The following year, Tyson faced off against Johnny Newton in what was dubbed the "Fight of the Century." The hype was well-deserved as the two men were evenly matched. However, in the fourth round, Tyson landed a devastating punch that knocked Newton out, making Tyson the heavyweight champion of the world once again. Despite the brutal fight, Tyson and Newton developed a friendship after the bout.

In 2002, Tyson attempted to win the heavyweight title once again at the age of 35, but he was defeated by Lennox Lewis in a knockout. Tyson retired from professional boxing in 2006 after losing consecutive matches against Danny Williams and Kevin McBride.

Despite earning over $300 million throughout his career, Tyson declared bankruptcy in 2003 with approximately $23 million in debt. His legacy in boxing remains significant as he is regarded as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, despite his controversial and turbulent career.

Michael Tyson was renowned for his formidable and intimidating boxing style, as well as his controversial behavior both inside and outside the ring. In his early career, he was nicknamed "Iron" and "Kid Dynamite," and later gained the moniker "The Baddest Man on the Planet." Despite his tumultuous personal life, Tyson is widely regarded as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, and holds the third longest unified championship reign in heavyweight history, with eight consecutive defenses.

In recognition of his achievements, Tyson has been inducted into both the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame. He is currently ranked as the 15th greatest heavyweight boxer of all time by BoxRec, and was named the number one hardest hitter in heavyweight history by ESPN.com. The Ring also recognized Tyson's punching power, ranking him as the 16th greatest puncher of all time. According to Sky Sports, Tyson was "perhaps the most ferocious fighter to step into a professional ring."