Intending to fight a gorilla, biting off an opponent’s ear, or using a dildo during a doping test are some of the “rare” stories of boxing legend Mike Tyson – who is preparing to fight a boxer 30 years his junior, Jake Paul.
Used hallucinogens at age 11 (1977). The streets of Brooklyn, especially the notorious Brownsville neighborhood, negatively affected Tyson’s childhood. He was seduced by his friends and soon started using illegal drugs.
“I started doing drugs when I was nine or 10 years old,” Tyson told the Joe Rogan Experience podcast . “Smoking and drinking. When I got older, around 11, I tried hallucinogens. It was a horrible experience that I never did again.”
Defeated Trevor Berbick while undergoing treatment for a sexually transmitted disease (1986). Tyson made history on November 20, 1986, when he defeated Trevor Berbick by technical knockout in the second round to become the youngest WBC heavyweight champion in history (20 years and 145 days).
The American revealed that he had been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (STI) before the fight. “The day before the fight, I looked in my pants and there was a discharge,” he wrote in his 2013 autobiography. “I had gonorrhea. I don’t know if it was from a prostitute or someone else, and the doctor gave me a shot of antibiotics. I wasn’t in the best shape, but I didn’t care, I went into the ring and beat Berbick.”
Attempting to Fight a Gorilla (1989). Tyson was at his peak in the late 1980s and had no opponents in the ring. During a private trip to the New York Zoo with his then-wife Robin Givens, he offered the zookeeper $10,000 to try his hand at a silverback gorilla.
“I paid the staff at the New York Zoo to open the door just for me and Robin,” Tyson said. “When we got to the gorilla enclosure, there was a big silverback gorilla bullying all the other gorillas. They were very strong, but they had the eyes of an innocent child. I offered $10,000 to the staff to open the door and let me break the gorilla’s nose, but they refused.”
Impregnated a prison guard (1992-1995). While serving nearly three years in prison for rape, Tyson began a relationship with a female prison guard. He revealed that the two had sex multiple times a day and got the female prison guard pregnant.
“I had a girlfriend and got a girl pregnant in prison,” Tyson said in an episode of his podcast. “I enjoyed prison life. I was Mike Tyson and people gave me what I wanted. Everyone talked about me like I was some tough guy or some great guy.”
Biting Evander Holyfield’s ear (1997). In a 2023 interview, Tyson admitted that Evander Holyfield was his most formidable enemy.
During his peak, Tyson fought Holyfield twice, but lost both times. On November 9, 1996, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Holyfield won by technical knockout in the 11th round to win the WBA and The Ring heavyweight titles.
Half a year later, Tyson created the most scandalous scandal in the history of world boxing. The American boxer bit both of Holyfield’s ears, with the first injury being more severe on the right ear, with 40 seconds left in the third round. Immediately after biting Holyfield’s ear, Tyson spat out a mouthful of blood, believed to be a piece of his opponent’s severed ear.
After this bite, with the consultation of the doctors, the referee still allowed the match to continue because Holyfield was able to fight again. Tyson was deducted two points but still did not stop his foul play. With 20 seconds left in the third round, “Iron Boxer” bit Holyfield’s left ear, but this time it was light and only grazed. Tyson was complained by Holyfield’s team for the act of intentionally destroying, and was declared a loser by the referee.
In May 2021, Tyson wanted to fight Holyfield for the third time. However, negotiations fell through when Holyfield’s side announced that “Iron Mike” had rejected the $25 million offer. Holyfield then moved on to fight former UFC champion Vitor Belfort. The match lasted just under 1 minute and 50 seconds, as Belfort was declared the winner by technical knockout.
Fighting while high on drugs (2000). In his 2013 autobiography, Tyson revealed that he had used cocaine and marijuana shortly before knocking out fellow countryman Lou Savarese in the first round of their fight at Hampden Park.
Using a dildo to bypass a doping test (2000). Tyson had trouble passing a drug test when he used drugs in preparation for fights, so he used a whizzinator – a wearable dildo filled with clean urine – to bypass the test.
Press conference brawl with Lennox Lewis (2002). During a press conference in New York, Tyson punched one of Lewis’ bodyguards, sparking a brawl. The two fighters rolled on the floor as bystanders tried to intervene.
Entering the match at the Pyramid Arena in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, Lewis knocked out Tyson in the eighth round.
Lewis was at his peak between 1989 and 2003. He fought 44 professional fights, winning 41, drawing one and losing two. Of those victories, 32 were by knockout. Tyson fought 58 professional fights between 1985 and 2005, winning 50, including 44 by knockout, and losing six.
