Sports
10 Unheard Facts About Boxing Legend, Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson, once the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, has lived a life full of triumphs, tragedies, and surprising twists. Here are 10 lesser-known facts about the boxing icon that highlight his complex journey:
1. A Troubled Youth
By the age of 13, Tyson had already been arrested 38 times. His early life was marred by a history of crime and mischief, which led him to the Tryon School for Boys in Johnstown, New York. It was there that his boxing potential was discovered by Bobby Stewart, a counselor and former boxer who recognized Tyson’s raw talent. Stewart helped Tyson hone his skills before introducing him to legendary trainer Cus D’Amato, who would become his legal guardian.
2. A Painful Family History
Tyson’s relationship with his mother was strained. His mother, who is alleged to have worked as a prostitute, passed away when Tyson was just 16. He recalls never having the opportunity to speak to her about his accomplishments. Tyson stated, “I never saw my mother happy with me and proud of me for doing something: she only knew me as being a wild kid running the streets, coming home with new clothes that she knew I didn’t pay for.”
3. A Heartbreaking Loss
In 2009, Tyson experienced one of the most devastating tragedies of his life. His four-year-old daughter, Exodus, died after a tragic home accident involving a treadmill cord. Tyson, who was in Las Vegas at the time, rushed back to Phoenix to be with her, but she succumbed to her injuries the following day.
4. Faith and Identity
Although Tyson was raised a Catholic, he later converted to Islam before serving his prison sentence. He clarified that his conversion occurred prior to his time behind bars and explained that he made no effort to correct media reports suggesting otherwise. Tyson completed the Islamic pilgrimage Umrah in 2010 and again in December 2022, accompanied by musician DJ Khaled.
5. A Conviction That Shaped His Life
In July 1991, Tyson was convicted of rape after an incident involving Desiree Washington, an 18-year-old beauty queen. The trial, which lasted from January to February 1992, resulted in Tyson being sentenced to six years in prison. He was later released on parole in 1995 after serving three years.
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6. Celibacy for Championship Glory
Tyson once revealed that he abstained from sex for around five years during his rise to become the youngest heavyweight champion in history. “I always read that great fighters never had sex before fights and I was a young kid and I wanted to be the youngest heavyweight champion in the world, so I restrained myself from sex for around 5 years,” Tyson shared.
7. A Bizarre Proposal
In one of his more eccentric moments, Tyson offered a zookeeper $10,000 to open the gate to the gorilla pen so he could fight a gorilla that had been bullying the other primates. However, the zookeeper declined Tyson’s unusual offer.
8. A Grueling Training Regimen
Tyson’s training routine was intense and relentless. He would wake up at 4 AM for a 5-mile jog, followed by a series of rigorous exercises. His daily regimen included 2000 sit-ups, 500 push-ups, 500 dips, 500 shrugs, and 30 minutes of neck bridges. He followed this demanding schedule six days a week, often spending up to 10 hours training each day.
9. A Love for Exotic Animals
Tyson has a long history of owning exotic animals, including Bengal tigers, mountain lions, and pumas. At one point, he spent $70,000 each on three white Bengal tigers, along with an additional $200,000 annually for their upkeep. Tyson later expressed regret for keeping wild animals in captivity but fondly recalled his first-ever fight being over a pigeon.
10. The Iconic Facial Tattoo
Tyson’s distinctive facial tattoo, which was inspired by the Māori tribe, has become one of his most recognizable features. Initially, the tattoo was met with criticism, but Tyson later revealed that he had wanted a design of hearts to symbolize his softer side. However, his tattoo artist, Victor Whitmill, convinced him to adopt the tribal design before his match with Clifford Ettiene.
Despite earning over $400 million throughout his career, Tyson faced significant financial challenges and filed for bankruptcy in 2003. Lavish spending on mansions, cars, and exotic pets led him to accumulate $23 million in debt. To recover, he launched a cannabis business, appeared in movies, and started a podcast. Today, his estimated net worth is between $10 million to $15 million.
Australian doubles champion, Max Purcell has been provisionally suspended after admitting to a violation of anti-doping regulations, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced on Monday.
The 26-year-old, ranked 12th in the world for doubles, confessed to using a “prohibited method” and voluntarily entered a provisional suspension beginning December 10.
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The ITIA confirmed the suspension took full effect on December 12, stating, “Time served under provisional suspension will be credited against any future sanction.”
As a result of the suspension, the 26-year-old is banned from competing in, coaching at, or attending any tennis events sanctioned by the sport’s governing bodies.
This suspension rules him out of January’s Australian Open, where he was expected to be a strong contender.
Purcell’s career highlights include winning the 2022 Wimbledon doubles title with fellow Australian Matt Ebden and this year’s US Open doubles crown alongside Jordan Thompson.
In a statement, Tennis Australia clarified that the violation concerned a prohibited method rather than a banned substance.
“The International Tennis Integrity Agency confirmed the breach relates to the use of a prohibited method, rather than the presence of a prohibited substance.
“As the matter is currently under investigation, it is inappropriate to comment further at this time,” it said.
The ITIA did not provide further details regarding the breach but noted that investigations are ongoing.
This case comes amid increased scrutiny over doping in tennis. Recent incidents include Polish world number two Iga Swiatek and Italian top-ranked player Jannik Sinner.
Swiatek received a one-month sanction earlier this year after testing positive for a banned heart medication, though the violation was deemed unintentional.
Meanwhile, Sinner was cleared after twice testing positive for traces of the steroid clostebol, though the World Anti-Doping Agency has appealed the decision.
Both Swiatek and Sinner are set to compete in the Australian Open, beginning January 12.
Strategic partners to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), GTI Group has congratulated the football ruling body on the successful achievements of Nigerian footballers at the just concluded CAF Awards ceremony in Marrakech, Morocco where Super Eagles dare-devil striker Ademola Lookman was crowned the African Player of the Year.
Head of Media and Publicity, GTI, Andrew Ekejiuba, in a statement in Lagos, expressed great hope that the efforts of the NFF at restructuring and repositioning football development in the country has begun yielding the desired results.
Biztellers reports that CAF awards event also witnessed the back-to-back emergence of Super Falcons goaltender, Chiamaka Nnadozie as CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year, while the Super Falcons carted home the Women’s National Team of the Year award.
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Ekejiuba reiterated that the Alh Ibrahim Gusau-led NFF is gradually returning the country to the glorious years when Nigeria dominated the award and was once ranked 5th best soccer-playing nation by the world football ruling body FIFA.
“The achievements of our Nigerian players at the just concluded CAF Award is a testament to the abundance of talents in the country and the clear vision of Alh Ibrahim Gusau-led NFF board to ensure that these players realise their ambition to become the best in the continent and beyond.
“Therefore, GTI congratulates the Awardees for bringing honour to Nigeria,” he said.
“As strategic partners to the Nigeria Premier Football League, GTI’s relentless effort with the NPFL Board has helped to lay a solid foundation for a prosperous elite league that will eventually attract the best legs locally and internationally. Also, by focusing on transparency, infrastructural development and security, GTI and NPFL are creating a sustainable environment where football can thrive”.
In a bid to ensure increased visibility for the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) this coming season, the Board has reaffirmed its commitment by engaging with StarTimes, a key broadcasting partner.
This filtered out of the NWFL Annual General Assembly held in Abuja on Tuesday, which saw Chairman of the NWFL Board, Nkechi Obi, lead a high-powered delegation to meet with StarTimes management on Wednesday.
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She said, “This partnership is a vital step in our mission to bring the excitement of the league to a wider audience and showcase the talent in women’s football.”
It was gathered that during the discussions, StarTimes’ Chief Operating Officer, Engr. Tunde Aina reiterated that, “StarTimes is committed to delivering top-quality coverage and ensuring that our viewers enjoy every moment of the women’s leagues.”
These initiatives aim to significantly boost audience engagement and elevate the NWFL’s profile both locally and internationally. The discussions covered the production and coverage of matches, highlight shows, and strategic marketing of league content across StarTimes’ diverse channels.
As a key outcome of the meeting, a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is being finalized, with both parties expressing optimism about concluding arrangements in time for the Season Opener.
The anticipated partnership is expected to kick off with the high-stakes NWFL Premiership clash between defending champions Edo Queens and Abia Angels at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City on January 15, 2025.
The meeting was attended by high-ranking NWFL officials, including Vice Chairperson Hajiya Hussina Suleiman and Board member, Madam Henrietta Ihiabor.
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