In his prime, Tyson was among the most intimidating fighters ever, winning his first 37 fights, many of them by devastating knockouts. He won the WBC title from Trevor Berbick in 1986, knocking Berbick senseless in the second round; Berbick stumbled around the ring as if he were walking on a merry-go-round.
Perhaps the crowning moment of Tyson's career came in 1988, when he stretched out Michael Spinks on the canvas in 91 seconds, a performance in which Tyson lived up to his nickname, the Baddest Man on the Planet.
But Tyson was bad outside the ring as well, living in excess and behaving in bizarre fashion. It finally caught up with him in 1990, when he was knocked out by Buster Douglas in Japan in one of boxing's biggest upsets.
Less than two years later, Tyson was convicted of raping Desiree Washington in an Indianapolis hotel room, and he spent almost three years in prison.
Tyson took great pains Tuesday to emphasize that he had changed and that he did not want to be remembered for his many mistakes. Tyson has always been a contradiction, from his fits of rage to the Arthur Ashe tattoo on his left arm. But those around him sense a calm they never saw when he had a fat wallet and a fat entourage to go with it. Tyson even chastised a questioner Tuesday for using profanity and said that one of his main goals was to set a better example for his six children.
"I've gone through hard times under the microscope," Tyson said. "It's not about being the best fighter in the world or the worst fighter, it's about being a better person. I always took care of my children financially, but I never gave anybody my time."
Tyson hardly has time on his side when it comes to boxing. But in a sport that looks kindly on those who pick themselves up from the canvas, he seemed eager to take advantage of another chance.
"I've had 30,000 chances," Tyson said. "I don't want the chaos anymore."
RSS