Youngest Champion (WBC), Undisputed Champion, $20 Million Dollar Payday, Marriage, Destruction of
Holmes, and Sphinx, Divorce.
Holmes, and Sphinx, Divorce.
Less than two years later, and, after racking up 27 consecutive wins, Tyson signed to fight Trevor Berbick for the
World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight title. ......... ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight title. ......... ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Nov. 22, 1986 -- After less than six minutes in the ring, Tyson, at the age of 20, cemented his place in history as the
youngest man ever crowned heavyweight champion. ................ ......
youngest man ever crowned heavyweight champion. ................ ......
Not content with stopping at one title, Tyson's mission was to unify the heavyweight division and provide the world
with its first undisputed heavyweight champion since Muhammad Ali a decade before.
with its first undisputed heavyweight champion since Muhammad Ali a decade before.
March 7, 1987 -- Tyson accomplished the second leg of his mission , with a 12-round decision victory over James
"Bonecrusher" Smith to add the World Boxing Association (WBA) belt to his growing collection.
"Bonecrusher" Smith to add the World Boxing Association (WBA) belt to his growing collection.
June 21, 1987 -- A parking lot attendant says Tyson tried to kiss a female employee and struck the male attendant. He
is charged with misdemeanor assault and battery and assault with a deadly weapon, and pays $105,000 to settle the
case.
is charged with misdemeanor assault and battery and assault with a deadly weapon, and pays $105,000 to settle the
case.
Aug. 1, 1987 -- Finally, less than five months later, his dream was complete. Tyson became the undisputed world
heavyweight champion by outpointing Tony Tucker to claim the International Boxing Federation (IBF) belt, thus
unifying the belts.
heavyweight champion by outpointing Tony Tucker to claim the International Boxing Federation (IBF) belt, thus
unifying the belts.
Oct. 16, 1987 -- Knocks out Olympian Tyrell Biggs in the 7th round in Atlantic City to retain heavyweight title.
Tyson's post fight interview he stated, "He was screaming like my wife." "I could have knocked him out in the third
round but I wanted to do it slowly, so he would remember this night for a long time."..
Tyson's post fight interview he stated, "He was screaming like my wife." "I could have knocked him out in the third
round but I wanted to do it slowly, so he would remember this night for a long time."..
March 20, 1988 -- Tyson makes his Tokyo Japan debut at the TokyoDome and knocks out number 2 ranked Tony
Tubbs to retain the world heavyweight title.
Tubbs to retain the world heavyweight title.
Jan 22, 1988 -- Tyson went on to make 6 successful defenses of his unified titles. Tyson defeated everyone in his path
including former champion Larry Holmes. Tyson meets former champ Larry Holmes 55-3, in Trump Plaza in New
York. Tyson knocked Holmes down 4 times. The referee stopped the fight in the 4th round. ...
including former champion Larry Holmes. Tyson meets former champ Larry Holmes 55-3, in Trump Plaza in New
York. Tyson knocked Holmes down 4 times. The referee stopped the fight in the 4th round. ...
June 27, 1988 -- For his 91 second destruction of Sphinx. Tyson earned more than
$20 million,which, at the time, was the largest sum ever paid to an athlete. 91 second equals $219,780 per second!
Tyson is pictured here on the cover of S.I.
$20 million,which, at the time, was the largest sum ever paid to an athlete. 91 second equals $219,780 per second!
Tyson is pictured here on the cover of S.I.
Billed as "ONCE AND FOR ALL". Tyson met Olympian, former world champion Michael Sphinx. The ring walk and
announcements lasted longer than the 91 second destruction of Spinks. Tyson pummeled Sphinx with a right hand to
the body from which Sphinx could not get up to beat the ten count.
announcements lasted longer than the 91 second destruction of Spinks. Tyson pummeled Sphinx with a right hand to
the body from which Sphinx could not get up to beat the ten count.
Feb 7, 1988 -- Actress Robin Givens and Tyson are married in Chicago on Feb. 7, 1988, following the NBA All-Star
Game and later repeat their vows in New York City. New York. Tyson and Givens become a celbrity couple during
their short 8 month marriage.
Game and later repeat their vows in New York City. New York. Tyson and Givens become a celbrity couple during
their short 8 month marriage.
June 1988 -- Tyson sues manager Bill Cayton to break his managerial contract.
July 27, 1988 -- Settles Cayton suit out of court, reducing Cayton's managerial share from one-third to 20 percent of
purses.
purses.
Aug. 23, 1988 -- In the early morning hours of August 23, 1988, Mike Tyson stopped by Dapper Dans, a Harlem
clothing store. Mitch Green happened to be in the area and an argument ensued, in which Green threw a punch and
Tyson responded with a straight right landing on the bridge of Green's nose; requiring five stitches. The bare knuckle
punch resulted in a fracture to Tyson's hand causing a postponement of his scheduled first fight with Frank Bruno.
clothing store. Mitch Green happened to be in the area and an argument ensued, in which Green threw a punch and
Tyson responded with a straight right landing on the bridge of Green's nose; requiring five stitches. The bare knuckle
punch resulted in a fracture to Tyson's hand causing a postponement of his scheduled first fight with Frank Bruno.
Sept. 4, 1988 -- Tyson is knocked unconscious after driving his $72,000 BMW into a tree. Three days later, the New
York Daily News reports the accident was a "suicide attempt" caused by a "chemical imbalance" that made him
violent and irrational.
York Daily News reports the accident was a "suicide attempt" caused by a "chemical imbalance" that made him
violent and irrational.
Sept. 30, 1988 -- Givens says in a nationally televised interview with Barbara Walters that Tyson is a
manic-depressive and that she is afraid of him. Tyson sits meekly next to her. Robin repeats the "manic depressive"
charge, with Tyson listening intently and gently stroking the back of his wife's neck. Robin's detailed dexcription of
the "life of horror" she is having with Tyson creates a furor, with Tyson supporters surmising that she is publicly
laying the groundwork for a divorce suit.
Tyson counters by telling Chicago Sun-Times reporter Lacy J. Banks that living with Robin and her mother has been
like "living with the Ku Klux Klan." He says that "they don't like Black people...they use them. But they don't like or
respect Black people. They want to be White so bad. The way they talk about Black people you'd think you were
living with the Ku Klux Klan." He says that his new family has been "trying to take me away from the people I grew
up with and throw me into their kind of high-class world... Not only did she [Robin] want to take my money, but she
wanted to ruin me, embarrass me, take away my manhood and humiliate me on television so that no woman would
ever want me again. And that's evil." He concludes with: "She had her chance and she blew it. She blew the
opportunity of a lifetime. Nobody is ever going to want her. She just missed out on the train." He says there is no
chance that he and Robin will patch up things and live together again.
Tyson also stated , "Anyone with a grain of sense would know that if I punched my wife I would rip her head off. It's
all lies. I have never laid a finger on her."
manic-depressive and that she is afraid of him. Tyson sits meekly next to her. Robin repeats the "manic depressive"
charge, with Tyson listening intently and gently stroking the back of his wife's neck. Robin's detailed dexcription of
the "life of horror" she is having with Tyson creates a furor, with Tyson supporters surmising that she is publicly
laying the groundwork for a divorce suit.
Tyson counters by telling Chicago Sun-Times reporter Lacy J. Banks that living with Robin and her mother has been
like "living with the Ku Klux Klan." He says that "they don't like Black people...they use them. But they don't like or
respect Black people. They want to be White so bad. The way they talk about Black people you'd think you were
living with the Ku Klux Klan." He says that his new family has been "trying to take me away from the people I grew
up with and throw me into their kind of high-class world... Not only did she [Robin] want to take my money, but she
wanted to ruin me, embarrass me, take away my manhood and humiliate me on television so that no woman would
ever want me again. And that's evil." He concludes with: "She had her chance and she blew it. She blew the
opportunity of a lifetime. Nobody is ever going to want her. She just missed out on the train." He says there is no
chance that he and Robin will patch up things and live together again.
Tyson also stated , "Anyone with a grain of sense would know that if I punched my wife I would rip her head off. It's
all lies. I have never laid a finger on her."
Oct. 2, 1988 -- Shortly after the Barbara Walters interview on ABC's 20/20, Tyson reportedly goes into a rage in his
$4.5 million mansion in Bernardsville, N.J. Robin says she is terrified. She packs her bags and flees to her Los
Angeles home. She hires famed "palimony" lawyer Marvin Mitchelson to file divorce papers, alleging that Tyson had
attacked her after the TV show, and that it was "the latest in a continuous horror story for me." She claims that
"Michael has repeatedly hit me, thrown things at me, threatened to kill me" and also "threatened to kill my mother,
Ruth Roper, and my sister, Stephanie Givens, and an employee." She continues: "My husband, Michael Tyson, has
throughout our marriage been violent and physically abusive, and prone to unprovoked rages of violence and
destruction." She asks for an equitable share of money, properties and other assets. A few days later she and
Mitchelson split and she hires another lawyer, Raoul Felder of New York.
$4.5 million mansion in Bernardsville, N.J. Robin says she is terrified. She packs her bags and flees to her Los
Angeles home. She hires famed "palimony" lawyer Marvin Mitchelson to file divorce papers, alleging that Tyson had
attacked her after the TV show, and that it was "the latest in a continuous horror story for me." She claims that
"Michael has repeatedly hit me, thrown things at me, threatened to kill me" and also "threatened to kill my mother,
Ruth Roper, and my sister, Stephanie Givens, and an employee." She continues: "My husband, Michael Tyson, has
throughout our marriage been violent and physically abusive, and prone to unprovoked rages of violence and
destruction." She asks for an equitable share of money, properties and other assets. A few days later she and
Mitchelson split and she hires another lawyer, Raoul Felder of New York.
Oct. 3, 1988 -- Givens and her family go public with tales of beatings by Tyson. Givens
files for divorce and slaps a lawsuit on Tyson.
files for divorce and slaps a lawsuit on Tyson.
Oct. 7, 1988 -- Givens files for divorce.
Oct. 14, 1988 -- Tyson countersues Givens for divorce and annulment.
Oct. 26, 1988 -- Tyson becomes partners with ex-convict, bookie, manslaughterer, 22 arrests the
devil himself "Don King.".....
devil himself "Don King.".....
Dec. 12, 1988 -- Sandra Miller of New York sues Tyson for allegedly grabbing her, propositioning her and insulting
her at a nightclub. A jury later finds Tyson guilty of battery, fining him $100.
her at a nightclub. A jury later finds Tyson guilty of battery, fining him $100.
Dec. 15, 1988 -- Lori Davis of New York sues Tyson for allegedly grabbing her buttocks while she was dancing at
the same nightclub on the same night as the incident with Miller.
the same nightclub on the same night as the incident with Miller.
Feb. 14, 1989 -- Tyson and Givens fly together on Steve Wynn's lear jet and are divorced in the Dominican Republic.
Feb. 25, 1989 -- Following an eight month layoff, Tyson went on to post wins over European Champion mandatory
challenger Frank Bruno. During the postfight Tyson remarked, "How dare these boxers challenge me with their
primitive skills?""It makes me angry. They're just as good as dead.".. ................................................
challenger Frank Bruno. During the postfight Tyson remarked, "How dare these boxers challenge me with their
primitive skills?""It makes me angry. They're just as good as dead.".. ................................................
April 9, 1989 -- Accused of striking a parking attendant three times with an open hand outside a Los Angeles
nightclub after the attendant asked Tyson to move his Mercedes-Benz out of a spot reserved for the club's owner. The
charges are later dropped due to lack of witness cooperation.
nightclub after the attendant asked Tyson to move his Mercedes-Benz out of a spot reserved for the club's owner. The
charges are later dropped due to lack of witness cooperation.
Jul 21, 1989 -- " I look at him (Tyson) and I see nothing, just something I have to destroy". Tyson knocked out
Carl "The Truth" Williams in 93 seconds of the first round.
Carl "The Truth" Williams in 93 seconds of the first round.
Tyson became one of the most recognizable athletes in the world and the most dominant figure in boxing. ,,,
Apr. 1988 -- Tyson begins acting erratically, crashing his $180,000 Bentley into a parked car in New York City
while supposedly having an in-car fight with Robin.
while supposedly having an in-car fight with Robin.
June 27, 1988 -- Tyson on the cover of Time magazine.
