Mike Tyson (Michael Gerard Tyson, born 30 June 1966) is an American former professional boxer who competed between 1985 and 2024. Nicknamed "Iron Mike" and "Kid Dynamite", he was undisputed world heavyweight champion from 1987 to 1990 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time. He became the youngest heavyweight champion in history at the age of 20. This biography follows his life and career up to November 2026.
Mike Tyson at a Glance
| Full name | Michael Gerard Tyson |
| Born | 30 June 1966, Brooklyn, New York City, United States |
| Age | 60 (as of November 2026) |
| Profession | Former professional boxer |
| Nicknames | Iron Mike, Kid Dynamite, the Baddest Man on the Planet |
| Undisputed heavyweight champion | 1987 to 1990 |
| Knockout record | First 19 pro fights won by knockout; 88 percent knockout-to-win ratio |
| Hall of Fame | International Boxing Hall of Fame; World Boxing Hall of Fame |
| Most recent fight | Lost to Jake Paul by unanimous decision, November 2024 |
Early Life in Brooklyn
Tyson was born in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, and the family lived in Bedford-Stuyvesant before money problems forced a move to Brownsville when he was ten. He grew up in neighbourhoods with high levels of crime, and he was in trouble with the law as a boy. He was introduced to boxing and was taken under the wing of the trainer Cus D'Amato, who taught him the high-guard "peek-a-boo" style that became his signature.
Rise to Heavyweight Champion
Tyson won his first 19 professional fights by knockout, 12 of them in the first round. On 22 November 1986 he beat Trevor Berbick by second-round technical knockout to win the WBC heavyweight title at 20 years and four months, making him the youngest heavyweight champion in history. He became the first heavyweight to hold the WBA, WBC and IBF belts at the same time and the only one to unify them in succession. On 27 June 1988 he knocked out Michael Spinks in 91 seconds to become the lineal champion.
The Buster Douglas Upset
On 11 February 1990 Tyson lost the undisputed title to Buster Douglas in Tokyo, one of the biggest upsets in sporting history. Tyson has said that losing that fight made him a better person and fighter.
Prison and Comeback
In 1992 Tyson was convicted of rape and sentenced to six years in prison. He was released on parole after three years, in 1995, and began a series of comeback fights, regaining the WBA and WBC titles in 1996. He lost the WBA title to Evander Holyfield that November. In their 1997 rematch Tyson was disqualified for biting Holyfield's ears, an incident that became one of the most notorious in sport. He lost by knockout to Lennox Lewis in a 2002 world title fight.
Style and Records
Tyson's ferocious punching, hand speed and head movement made him one of the most feared fighters in the ring. With an 88 percent knockout-to-win ratio he was ranked 16th on The Ring magazine's list of the 100 greatest punchers of all time and first on ESPN's list of the hardest hitters in heavyweight history.
Return to the Ring
In November 2024, aged 58, Tyson fought Jake Paul and lost by unanimous decision. The bout set the record for the biggest boxing gate in the United States outside Las Vegas. A planned exhibition with Floyd Mayweather Jr. was announced for 2026 but has been repeatedly delayed, and reports have said that it was pushed back while Tyson recovered from a broken hand. Tyson turned 60 on 30 June 2026.
Outside Boxing
Tyson appeared in the films Rocky Balboa (2006) and The Hangover (2009) and has worked in business, including a cannabis venture. In 2026 he said he wanted to help rebuild amateur boxing in the United States.
Honours
Tyson is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame.
Legacy
Tyson's career includes some of boxing's greatest highs and most controversial moments, from his youth as a champion to his prison sentence and his comeback fights. His speed, power and aura made him one of the most recognisable sportsmen in the world.
Conclusion
Tyson remains one of the best-known figures in boxing more than two decades after his last world title fight. His life has been marked by extraordinary success, serious failures and attempts to rebuild, and he continues to draw large audiences into his sixties.
