In Tyson's memoir, "The Undisputed Truth" (via Rolling Stone), the boxer recounted how he was bullied because of his "pudgy" appearance and his lisp while growing up in Brownsville, Brooklyn. His method of coping was fighting, stealing, and drugs. He was arrested 38 times by the time he turned 13, at which point, he was sent to a juvenile detention center, Tryon School for Boys, in Johnstown, NY, where he realized his potential as a boxer with the help of the detention center counselor and former boxer, Bobby Stewart.
At the age of 18, Tyson made his professional boxing debut. Displaying his exceptional skills, Tyson earned his first belt at age 20, making him the youngest boxer to win the coveted heavyweight title. Also known as "Iron Mike" and "Kid Dynamite," Tyson was an undisputed heavyweight champion of boxing, winning the big three titles — IBF (International Boxing Federation), WBA (World Boxing Association), and WBC (World Boxing Council) — from 1987 to 1990.
Tyson's career and reputation took a turn when he was convicted of raping 18-year-old model Desiree Washington in 1992. He received 10 years in prison term, including four years of probation. Tyson served three out of his six-year-long sentence and got an early release from prison in 1995.
Though he did make a comeback and won the WBC and WBA titles following his release, his reputation continued a downward spiral as his aggressive approach in the ring landed him in hot water. Infamously, during his June 28, 1997, bout with Evander Holyfield, he bit off Holyfield's right ear and was disqualified from the match as a result. His boxing license was temporarily revoked after the incident.
Tyson eventually retired from the boxing world in 2006, but continues to make appearances in movies and media until this day, though his most notable role was playing a fictionalized version of himself in 2009's "The Hangover."
