Is Mike Tyson the best heavyweight champion of our time?

Ranking the best heavyweight fighters in the world of boxing is subjective, and a very complicated task. Multiple factors come into account, comparing wins and losses, World Championships, longevity, or general appeal. Nevertheless, one name that stands out of the bunch is the legendary Mike Tyson.

'Iron Mike' is widely considered to be one of the best heavyweights in the history of the sport, when taking into account his impressive career and his dominant personality in the ring.

Also referred to as 'Kid Dynamite', he was already brutalizing opponents in the ring before he was old enough to drink!

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On November 22, 1986, Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion in the history of the sport, with a second-round knockout of Trevor Berbick. He claimed the crown of the World Boxing Council (WBC).

A year later, he would claim the World Boxing Association (WBA) belt when he defeated James Smith. He was just 20 years old at the time.

Tyson kept accumulating big wins until February 11, 1990, when he lost his title to a lightly regarded James 'Buster' Douglas, who defeated 'Iron Mike' with a technical knockout in the 10th round. He took six years to regain his title.

Among his many accomplishments throughout his career, Tyson's reign as the undisputed heavyweight champion stands as a true testament to his dominance in the sport of boxing. His impressive 50-6-0 record (40 KOs) highlights his ferocious punching power.

However, Tyson's career was not without its controversies and hiccups. In 1992, he was convicted of rape and served three years in prison. Furthermore, his ex-wife Robin Givens also said in the divorce papers that their late-1980s marriage was "characterized by unprovoked rages of violence and destruction," according to ESPN.

Yet, Mike Tyson would return to the ring in 1995 right after being released from prison. 'Iron Mike' would beat Peter McNeeley after his manager jumped into the ring while McNeeley was being severely battered, according to ESPN.

On March 16, 1996, Mike Tyson would regain his WBC title with a third-round TKO of Frank Bruno. However, he would be the center of controversy once again after he bit Evander Holyfield's ear in 1997, resulting in a disqualification loss for Tyson.

Born June 30, 1966, in Brooklyn, New York, Tyson rose from a troubled youth to an undisputed heavyweight champion. According to Bleacher Report, Tyson was only two when his father abandoned him and his family. "Lorna Smith Tyson had to bear the responsibility of raising two sons and a daughter on her own. Mike Tyson's mother died when he was 16, and his sister died in 1990 when she was only 24."

"His early years were spent in high-crime neighborhoods where bone-crushing fights were a common occurrence. Since death was always around the corner, self-defense was as necessary as bread and butter," according to Bleacher Report.

Bleacher Report further reports on his involvement with criminal activities at an early age. By the time he was 13, he had been arrested 38 times for petty crimes. His talent would later "emerge as a fundamental aspect of his personality," making him a boxing hero for many and a villain for some.

It was during his time in high school when Tyson was discovered by former boxer Boby Steward, who offered to train him before introducing him to Cus D'Amato, the man who would see him become the legend he is today.

Tyson would go on to win the Junior Olympic Champions against Joe Cortez (1981) and Kelton Brown (1982). But he would make his big professional break in 1985 after he beat Hector Mercedes with a 1st round KO.

Tyson is widely regarded as the best heavyweight champion of all time, but some might say Rocky Marciano, Larry Holmes or Muhammad Ali... What do you think?

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