Mike Tyson’s rise reads like a stopwatch you cannot stop, with 88 percent knockouts across 50 wins and 28 first round finishes. Yet the same story also includes 38 arrests by age 10, a conviction in 1992, and a comeback that still ended with world title nights and the kind of biting controversy that followed him everywhere. Start with the birth facts and the training path that began at 13, then compare the early amateur runs to the pro reigns where he unified belts at speed.
Key Takeaways
- Mike Tyson was born on June 30, 1966, in the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City.
- Mike Tyson's biological father is listed as Jimmy Kirkpatrick, but he never knew him.
- Mike Tyson was raised primarily by his mother Lorna Smith in a turbulent household with multiple stepfathers.
- Mike Tyson was convicted of rape in 1992 and sentenced to 6 years in prison.
- Mike Tyson served 3 years of his 6-year sentence at Indiana Youth Center from 1992-1995.
- Mike Tyson faced road rage assault charges in 1999, acquitted.
- Mike Tyson married Robin Givens on February 7, 1988, in a high-profile wedding.
- Mike Tyson and Robin Givens divorced in 1989 after allegations of domestic violence.
- Mike Tyson has seven biological children from multiple relationships.
- Mike Tyson turned professional on March 6, 1985, defeating Hector Mercedes by first-round KO.
- Mike Tyson won his first 15 professional fights, 12 by knockout, all in 1985.
- Mike Tyson's professional debut purse was $500 against Hector Mercedes.
- Mike Tyson youngest heavyweight champ at 20 years, 4 months, 22 days old.
- Mike Tyson held the WBC heavyweight title from November 22, 1986, to March 18, 1990.
- Mike Tyson made 9 consecutive WBC title defenses, a record at the time.
From troubled youth to undisputed heavyweight champion, Tyson’s 88 percent knockout rate defined his era.
Related reading
01 · Category
Early Life29 stats
01
Mike Tyson was born on June 30, 1966, in the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City.
02
Mike Tyson's biological father is listed as Jimmy Kirkpatrick, but he never knew him.
03
Mike Tyson was raised primarily by his mother Lorna Smith in a turbulent household with multiple stepfathers.
04
At age 10, Mike Tyson was arrested 38 times for various petty crimes including theft and fighting.
05
Mike Tyson attended the Tryon School for Boys in upstate New York as a juvenile delinquent.
06
Mike Tyson won his first amateur boxing match at age 12 against a wrestler named Joey Hayes.
07
Mike Tyson's amateur boxing record was 24 wins and 5 losses before turning professional.
08
Mike Tyson won the Junior Olympic Games gold medal in 1984 in the heavyweight division.
09
Mike Tyson was trained by Cus D'Amato starting at age 13 in Catskill, New York.
10
Cus D'Amato legally adopted Mike Tyson after his mother's death in 1982.
11
Mike Tyson dropped out of high school at age 15 but later earned a GED.
12
Mike Tyson's first Golden Gloves championship was won in 1985 at heavyweight.
13
Mike Tyson sparred with professional boxers like Floyd Patterson while still amateur.
14
Mike Tyson's childhood nickname was "Fairy Boy" due to his high-pitched voice.
15
Mike Tyson weighed 200 pounds by age 13 during his early training.
16
Mike Tyson moved to Catskill, NY, at 14 to live with Cus D'Amato.
17
Mike Tyson's mother Lorna died of cancer when he was 16.
18
Mike Tyson won the 1984 New York State Junior Olympic heavyweight title.
19
Mike Tyson lost to Henry Tillman in the 1984 Olympic trials semifinals.
20
Mike Tyson avenged his loss to Kelton McCallum twice in amateur bouts.
21
Mike Tyson's amateur career included victories over Daren Laswell and Cameron Jackson.
22
Mike Tyson was 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) tall with a 180 cm (71 in) reach.
23
Mike Tyson weighed approximately 100 kg (220 lbs) in his prime.
24
Mike Tyson began boxing at age 10 under trainer Bobby Stewart in a detention center.
25
Mike Tyson won the 1985 United States Amateur Boxing Championship.
26
Mike Tyson's early life involved living in over a dozen foster homes.
27
Mike Tyson was influenced by Muhammad Ali and Jack Dempsey in his youth.
28
Mike Tyson's first tattoo was a tribal design on his face done in 2003.
29
Mike Tyson had a pet tiger named Kenya that he purchased in the 1980s.
Interpretation
Early Life Interpretation
Born into chaos and sculpted by Cus D'Amato's discipline, Mike Tyson's journey from a 10-year-old with 38 arrests to the youngest heavyweight champion was a violent, tragic, and meticulously engineered masterpiece of controlled fury.
More related reading
02 · Category
Legal Issues18 stats
01
Mike Tyson was convicted of rape in 1992 and sentenced to 6 years in prison.
02
Mike Tyson served 3 years of his 6-year sentence at Indiana Youth Center from 1992-1995.
03
Mike Tyson faced road rage assault charges in 1999, acquitted.
04
Mike Tyson pleaded guilty to drug possession in 1989, fined $1000.
05
Mike Tyson was fined $3 million and banned for biting Holyfield in 1997.
06
Mike Tyson filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on August 1, 2003, with $23M debt.
07
Mike Tyson settled a lawsuit with tattoo artist over Hangover 2 tattoo in 2011.
08
Mike Tyson arrested for DUI in California in 2018, no charges filed.
09
Mike Tyson violated parole terms in 1991 leading to rape trial.
10
Mike Tyson paid $100,000fine for marijuana possession in New York in 2000.
11
Mike Tyson sued promoter Don King for $100 million in 1998 over withheld purses.
12
Mike Tyson reached settlement with Don King in 2004 for $30 million.
13
Mike Tyson faced battery charges from airport incident in 2004, plea deal.
14
Mike Tyson ordered to pay $15,000to a court officer after 2007 Las Vegas scuffle.
15
Mike Tyson had probation revoked in 2007 for positive cocaine test.
16
Mike Tyson completed 27.5 hours community service for 2007 probation violation.
17
Mike Tyson lost a $3.5 million defamation lawsuit to Bradford Cornell in 1998.
18
Mike Tyson was involved in a 2010 nightclub brawl in Hawaii, no charges.
Interpretation
Legal Issues Interpretation
Mike Tyson's life outside the ring is a tragic masterclass in self-sabotage, where his fists, his finances, and his freedom all took far more brutal beatings than any of his opponents ever did.
More related reading
03 · Category
Personal Life19 stats
01
Mike Tyson married Robin Givens on February 7, 1988, in a high-profile wedding.
02
Mike Tyson and Robin Givens divorced in 1989 after allegations of domestic violence.
03
Mike Tyson has seven biological children from multiple relationships.
04
Mike Tyson's first child, daughter Dena Tyson, was born in 1990.
05
Mike Tyson married Monica Turner on April 19, 1997; divorced in 2003.
06
Mike Tyson wed Lakiha Spicer on June 6, 2009, his third marriage.
07
Mike Tyson has two children with Lakiha Spicer: Milan and Morocco.
08
Mike Tyson's daughter Exodus died at age 4 in a treadmill accident on May 26, 2009.
09
Mike Tyson struggled with drug addiction, including cocaine and alcohol, throughout his life.
10
Mike Tyson declared bankruptcy in 2003 despite earning over $400 million in career.
11
Mike Tyson converted to Islam while in prison and took the name Malik Abdul Aziz.
12
Mike Tyson has a face tattoo designed by artist S. Victor Whitmill, applied in 2006.
13
Mike Tyson hosted a one-man Broadway show "Undisputed Truth" in 2013.
14
Mike Tyson weighs around 130 kg (290 lbs) in retirement as of 2023.
15
Mike Tyson practices veganism intermittently and has a cannabis business.
16
Mike Tyson fathered a child with girlfriend Jordan Sparks in 2013 named Amir.
17
Mike Tyson has spoken openly about bipolar disorder diagnosis in 2002.
18
Mike Tyson attempted suicide multiple times during personal lows.
19
Mike Tyson owns a 4000-acre ranch in Ohio for his animals.
Interpretation
Personal Life Interpretation
The relentless, painful cycle of Mike Tyson's life outside the ring—marked by fleeting marriages, profound loss, financial ruin, and a quest for peace—has been a far more grueling and complex fight than any he ever faced as champion.
More related reading
04 · Category
Pro Career30 stats
01
Mike Tyson turned professional on March 6, 1985, defeating Hector Mercedes by first-round KO.
02
Mike Tyson won his first 15 professional fights, 12 by knockout, all in 1985.
03
Mike Tyson's professional debut purse was $500against Hector Mercedes.
04
Mike Tyson fought 15 times in 1985, setting a record for heavyweight activity.
05
Mike Tyson defeated Jesse Ferguson by TKO in the 6th round on February 16, 1986.
06
Mike Tyson's first fight outside the US was against Alonzo Jaco on January 26, 1986, in Houston.
07
Mike Tyson knocked out Marvis Frazier in 30 seconds on July 26, 1986.
08
Mike Tyson defeated Trevor Berbick by TKO in round 2 on November 22, 1986, to win his first heavyweight title.
09
Mike Tyson's 1986 title win made him the youngest heavyweight champion at 20 years old.
10
Mike Tyson defended his WBC title 9 times consecutively from 1986 to 1988.
11
Mike Tyson unified titles by defeating James Smith for WBA on March 7, 1987.
12
Mike Tyson knocked out Tony Tucker in round 12 on August 1, 1987, to claim IBF title.
13
Mike Tyson's fight against Larry Holmes on January 22, 1988, ended in 4th round TKO.
14
Mike Tyson defeated Michael Spinks in 91 seconds on June 27, 1988, unifying all three belts.
15
Mike Tyson's purse for the Spinks fight was $20 million.
16
Mike Tyson lost his titles to Buster Douglas by KO in round 10 on February 11, 1990.
17
Mike Tyson's comeback after prison included a win over Peter McNeeley by DQ in 1995.
18
Mike Tyson defeated Frank Bruno by TKO in round 3 on March 16, 1996.
19
Mike Tyson won the WBA and WBC titles back by defeating Bruce Seldon on September 7, 1996.
20
Mike Tyson's second reign ended with loss to Evander Holyfield on November 9, 1996.
21
Mike Tyson bit Evander Holyfield's ear during their rematch on June 28, 1997, leading to disqualification.
22
Mike Tyson's final professional record was 50 wins, 6 losses, 44 knockouts.
23
Mike Tyson fought his last bout against Kevin Rooney on June 7, 2005, winning by unanimous decision.
24
Mike Tyson had 28 first-round knockouts in his career.
25
Mike Tyson's average fight time was under 5 rounds for his knockout wins.
26
Mike Tyson defeated 27 opponents who were previously undefeated.
27
Mike Tyson won his first 19 pro fights by knockout.
28
Mike Tyson became the lineal heavyweight champion after beating Spinks.
29
Mike Tyson fought in 5 different decades professionally (1980s-2000s).
30
Mike Tyson won the WBC International Heavyweight title in 1985 against Conroy Nelson.
Interpretation
Pro Career Interpretation
Mike Tyson's career was a masterclass in savage efficiency, blazing from a $500 debut to unified champion with terrifying speed, only to unravel into a chaotic opera of self-destruction that somehow spanned five decades.
More related reading
05 · Category
Titles24 stats
01
Mike Tyson youngest heavyweight champ at 20 years, 4 months, 22 days old.
02
Mike Tyson held the WBC heavyweight title from November 22, 1986, to March 18, 1990.
03
Mike Tyson made 9 consecutive WBC title defenses, a record at the time.
04
Mike Tyson unified WBC, WBA, IBF, and lineal titles after defeating Tony Tucker on August 1, 1987.
05
Mike Tyson was the undisputed heavyweight champion from August 1987 to February 1990.
06
Mike Tyson won the WBA heavyweight title by defeating James "Bonecrusher" Smith on March 7, 1987.
07
Mike Tyson captured the IBF heavyweight title against Tony Tucker by 12th round TKO on August 1, 1987.
08
Mike Tyson defended his unified titles 6 times between 1987 and 1988.
09
Mike Tyson was stripped of his IBF title in 1987 for not fighting James "Buster" Douglas.
10
Mike Tyson regained WBC and WBA titles by defeating Frank Bruno on March 16, 1996.
11
Mike Tyson's second WBC title reign lasted 13 days before losing to Holyfield.
12
Mike Tyson was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2011.
13
Mike Tyson won Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year in 1986 and 1987.
14
Mike Tyson was named Sportsman of the Year by The Sporting News in 1986.
15
Mike Tyson ranked #1 pound-for-pound by Ring Magazine in 1988.
16
Mike Tyson won the Sugar Ray Robinson Award for best performance vs. Spinks in 1988.
17
Mike Tyson held three major heavyweight titles simultaneously three times in his career.
18
Mike Tyson defended a world title 12 times in total across reigns.
19
Mike Tyson was the first heavyweight to simultaneously hold WBC, WBA, and IBF titles.
20
Mike Tyson won the vacant WBC heavyweight title twice in his career.
21
Mike Tyson's knockout percentage was 88% across 50 wins.
22
Mike Tyson inducted into World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1989 while still active.
23
Mike Tyson won Fighter of the Decade award for 1980s from some outlets.
24
Mike Tyson named to Ring Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers at #1.
Interpretation
Titles Interpretation
Before the world even knew what hit it, a 20-year-old Mike Tyson had already unified the heavyweight titles and begun assembling a legacy of terrifying dominance that was as brilliant as it was brief.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Lars Eriksen. (2026, February 13). Mike Tyson Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/mike-tyson-statistics
MLA
Lars Eriksen. "Mike Tyson Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/mike-tyson-statistics.
Chicago
Lars Eriksen. 2026. "Mike Tyson Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/mike-tyson-statistics.
Sources & references
57 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level