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.

READ MORE: Mike Tyson Loses Comeback Fight To YouTuber Jake Paul

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.

In a clear step forward in the promise to revitalise Nigerian football, the President Bola Tinubu’s Football Intervention Project has officially kicked off.

The project began with IMG, the project’s strategic partner, meeting with top executives of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) at their Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.

It was gathered that the IMG team and Afro Sport, the Nigeria strategic partner, will also during the week meet with top executives of key stakeholders.

The key stakeholders include the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL), the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), the National Sports Commission (NSC) and corporate bodies that have shown interest in the project.

ALSO READ: AFCONQ: Nwabali Out Of Super Eagles’ Rwanda Game After Losing Father

Biztellers reports that the NTA Headquarters will house the Production Hub so it’s important for the visitors to meet with management to discuss prospects and challenges.

During the week, the IMG executives and Afro Sport executives will also meet with private football club owners from Ikorodu City and Remo Stars, and government-owned football club representatives from Kwara United and Lobi Stars.

Apart from these corporate entities, the IMG and Afro Sport fact-finding mission will also meet with individuals and corporate entities who have shown interest in the President Tinubu Football Intervention Project.

Recall that President Tinubu vowed after Super Eagles lost to host Cote D’Ivoire in the final of the AFCON 2023 that his government will do everything possible to ensure that our sports, starting with football, will be among the best in the world while hosting the team at the Aso Rock Villa.

The President matched words with action soon after the above pronouncement with brainstorming sessions with experts in football in Nigeria, experts at CAF, FIFA and other stakeholders in the beautiful game of football.

The majority of the experts agreed that the best medicine for the moribund football industry is IMG.

Apart from the company’s phenomenal achievement with the Indian Cricket League which they turned into a multi-billion-dollar business and the English Premier League (EPL) which they have made the most successful football brand in the world, they pointed at the magic IMG did with the AFCON 2023 in Côte d’Ivoire.

The CAF had engaged the IMG before the championship to be the exclusive rights holder for international media rights.

At the end of the one-month football fiesta, 2023 AFCON was adjudged the most successful edition of the tournament in terms of media coverage, commercial revenues and television audiences.

The IMG made AFCON more visible than ever before. The tournament achieved 1.1 billion viewers worldwide – double the figure achieved by the previous edition in Cameroon.

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) the MLS, the NWSL, the Dutch Eredivisie, the NBA, British Cycling Events, and the Saudi Pro League Saudi Arabian Football Federation are some of the events the IMG work with as partners.

Rwanda delivered a stunning performance on Monday, defeating Nigeria 2-1 in an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.

Despite the impressive victory, Rwanda failed to secure a spot in the tournament, as Benin Republic claimed the group’s second qualification ticket.

READ MORE: Labour Party’s Ondo Candidate Blames Obi, NLC For Defeat

Nigeria, already assured of their place in next year’s AFCON, fielded a rotated squad, but Rwanda seized the opportunity with a spirited display.

More to follow………….