The Shady Side Of Mike Tyson

The following article includes mentions of sexual assault, domestic abuse, and substance abuse. 

Mike Tyson had an unbelievable boxing career that began when he was only a teen in 1985 and lasted until he was almost 40. With nicknames like "Iron Mike," and "The Baddest Man on the Planet," it's no wonder that Tyson is still considered one of the greatest boxers of all time. Not only was the New York City native the undisputed world heavyweight champ from 1987 through 1990, but at age 20, he also became the youngest boxer ever to win the title.

Despite his impressive career, Tyson has had a difficult personal life seemingly since day one. The boxing star had a very tough upbringing and has been arrested multiple times. Most notably, he was convicted of rape, did prison time, and openly used drugs, to name just a few of the problems that plagued him over the years. Because of all these problems and his infamous anger issues, you could say Tyson has, well ... a shady side. He doesn't seem to be too apologetic for it either, usually denying serious accusations or claiming he doesn't regret some of his more questionable choices.

These days, though, it seems Tyson has managed to stay out of trouble. He even told the New York Post in 2021, "People see the difference [in me]... If you knew me in 1989 you knew a different person." He did credit that change to psychedelic toad venom, so it seems his sketchy side is somewhat intact. Let's break it down.

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

At just 22 years old, Mike Tyson married actor Robin Givens in 1988. The marriage proved to be a disaster — they divorced only months later in 1989, with Givens accusing Tyson of abuse. She told Barbara Walters (via Newsweek) that being married to Tyson was "torture, pure hell, worse than anything I could possibly imagine." She even detailed some of their interactions, saying, "He shakes. He pushes. He swings. Sometimes I think he's trying to scare me. ... I've become afraid. I mean very, very much afraid."

Even after their split, Givens told People, "I remember my ex-husband calling up and saying, 'I've decided I'm not going to kill you. I'm going to make your life so miserable you're going to slit your own throat and die.'" Tyson, for his part, admitted to the abuse but also put some blame on Givens. He told Oprah Winfrey (via People), "I have socked her before, and she socked me before, as well. It was just that kind of relationship."

Years after their divorce, Givens was still reeling from the relationship. She claimed Tyson slandered her on podcasts and in his book, "Undisputed Truth."  In 2020, The U.S. Sun reported that she even sent him a "cease and desist" aimed at preventing him from depicting her negatively in his future film biopic. A letter from her attorneys stated, "While [she] has attempted to move on, she still finds herself fighting the abusive, demeaning and false accounts of their relationship by Mr. Tyson nearly 35 years later."

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.

Mike Tyson wasn't only unapologetic toward the woman he was convicted of raping, but he also bragged about enjoying his punishment for it. The boxer revealed on the "Hotboxin' with Mike Tyson'" podcast, "I thought that this was the worst thing that could happen to a human being. ... I had a ball in prison." He elaborated, saying, "I had a girlfriend and I got a girl pregnant in prison. I was living a life in prison." Tyson also admitted in his book "Undisputed Truth" (via The Daily Mail) that through fan visits he was "having so much sex that I was too tired to even to go the gym."

The Brooklyn native did tell "Vlad TV" that he got "in trouble like the first six months ... cursing, getting written up," but then things got better. He dished, "Next thing you know, I'm dating one of the counsel workers now, she's letting me have sex with her now." He added that this liaison helped him earn his GED, which took time off his sentence. He explained that he was "giving her money and doing really some nasty stuff to her, and she let me pass this test."

On "Hotboxin," Tyson revealed that this wasn't his only tryst with a woman who worked at the prison, adding, "Anybody gave me what I want. ... I was just a pig." Things were so good that he claimed on "Sit Down With Michael Franzese," "When I did that three years, I didn't want to leave."

Mike Tyson appears to have had a hard time staying out of handcuffs because he got arrested multiple times after his three-year prison stint for rape. In 1998, specifically, a fender bender led to the boxer being arrested for assault. The then-32-year-old Tyson had been rear-ended while sitting at a red light and got out of his car to confront the two drivers behind him. According to The Baltimore Sun, the athlete punched then-62-year-old Abmielec Saucedo "in the face" and kicked then-50-year-old Richard Hardick "in the groin."

Despite Tyson asking for leniency to save his career, the judge sentenced him to what amounted to one year in prison, calling the incident "a tragic example of potentially lethal road rage." The judge felt that Tyson had "lashed out at two innocent people" and that he could have seriously hurt them if his bodyguards hadn't intervened since he has "the hands and feet of a professional fighter" (per the Los Angeles Times).

In 2006, Tyson was back behind bars again after being pulled over in Arizona "for driving erratically." ESPN reports that the athlete was subsequently arrested on DUI and drug possession charges. This time was a little different from Tyson's past arrests in that he not only confessed to being an addict but also admitted his guilt. He told the judge, "I had possession of cocaine, and I drove under the influence," and he checked himself into a treatment program.

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Mike Tyson was once one of the richest athletes in the world. Yet, he eventually managed to blow his $400 million fortune and had to declare bankruptcy in 2003. It seems that Tyson splurged on lavish and probably unnecessary purchases like his two $140,000 pet tigers, per The Washington Post. Then there was the $2 million bathtub he gifted ex-wife Robin Givens, his $173,000 diamond chain, and the $410,000 birthday party. Not to mention the Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and Bentley he owned, per The U.S. Sun. Let's also not forget Tyson had expensive illegal habits like cocaine and prostitutes. He even revealed on the "Today" show, "I was a prostitute hunter."

Then there were Tyson's legal fees and fines from his multiple arrests, as well as two very expensive divorces which, according to Sportscasting, cost him over $16 million. The boxer also blames those who used him for money, saying during a 2013 conference (via CNN), "I can't even call them leeches. That's too decent of a word."

Tyson admitted that things got so bad at one point that he was $23 million in debt and owed a lot in unpaid taxes to the IRS. At the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival, he dished (via WNYC), "They excused $2 million off my bill. ... I like the IRS now." Despite it all, the boxer has no regrets about spending. He explained, "​​I didn't spare any quarters, any nickels, or dimes either. I'm not regretful for that in no means whatsoever."

Mike Tyson has always been a self-proclaimed animal lover, but at one point, he owned actual tigers. Many would argue that keeping large exotic animals as pets in captivity is wrong. The boxer explained how he got his tigers, telling Fat Joe on Instagram Live (via The Independent) that he got the idea in jail after talking to a friend who was interested in trading cars for horses. He recalled him saying, "They have some nice tigers ... If you got one of those, that would be cool in your Ferrari." Tyson continued, "I said, 'Why don't you order me a couple.'"

These days, Tyson regrets purchasing his two cubs, admitting it was "foolish." He revealed, "I'm just happy I educated myself. I was doing the wrong s***. I shouldn't have had them in my house, believing they were domesticated. I was wrong." He also acknowledged how unsafe it was, saying, "There's no way you can domesticate these cats 100 percent. ... They'll kill you by accident." During an interview with GQ Sports, he said that he "had to get rid of" one of his tigers when she got old and unhealthy. He also claimed that she "ripped somebody's arm off."

On "Hotboxin' with Mike Tyson," the boxer admitted that he had a big ego when he got his tigers, but he added that his "insecurities" also made owning the animals alluring to him. "I wanted something that ferocious to love me," he said.