Mike Tyson turned 60 this summer and is still talking about getting back in the ring, with a planned exhibition against Floyd Mayweather Jr. still awaiting a confirmed date after a hand injury earlier in 2026. Whatever happens next, Iron Mike's place in history was settled long ago.
At his peak he was the most feared fighter on the planet: the youngest heavyweight champion ever and the first to hold the WBA, WBC and IBF belts at once. Shop the Mike Tyson collection and relive the story below.
Mike Tyson Fact File
| Full name | Michael Gerard Tyson |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 30 June 1966 (age 60) |
| Place of birth | Brooklyn, New York City, USA |
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| Division | Heavyweight |
| Nationality | American |
| Status | Retired from competition; exhibition with Floyd Mayweather Jr. pending |
| Pro record | 50 wins (44 KOs), 7 losses, 2 no contests |
| Nickname | Iron Mike, Kid Dynamite, The Baddest Man on the Planet |
Career History
| Period | Fights | Record in period | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985–1989 | 37 | 37–0 | Debut March 1985; WBC title 1986; undisputed by 1988 |
| 1990–1991 | 5 | 4–1 | Lost to Buster Douglas in Tokyo, February 1990 |
| 1995–1997 | 6 | 4–2 | Regained WBC and WBA titles in 1996 |
| 1999–2005 | 10 | 5–3, 2 NC | Fought Lennox Lewis for the world title in 2002 |
| 2024 | 1 | 0–1 | Lost a decision to Jake Paul in Texas |
Professional fights only (exhibitions excluded). NC = no contest. Final record: 59 fights, 50 wins, 7 losses, 2 no contests.
Early Years: Brooklyn to Catskill
Tyson grew up in Bedford-Stuyvesant and Brownsville in Brooklyn and found boxing as a teenager in upstate New York. At 14 he was brought to Catskill to train under the legendary Cus D'Amato, who later became his legal guardian.
D'Amato taught him the peek-a-boo style: head movement, hand speed and explosive combinations. When Tyson turned pro in March 1985, he won his first 19 fights by knockout, 12 of them in the opening round.
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Breakthrough: The Youngest Champion
On 22 November 1986, Tyson stopped Trevor Berbick in two rounds to win the WBC title, becoming the youngest heavyweight champion in history at 20 years and 4 months.
In 1987 he added the WBA belt against James Smith and the IBF title against Tony Tucker, the first heavyweight to hold all three at once.
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Peak: 91 Seconds Against Spinks
On 27 June 1988, Tyson knocked out Michael Spinks in 91 seconds to cement his status as the undisputed, lineal champion. He was Ring magazine Fighter of the Year in 1986 and 1988.
Then came the shock of the century: James 'Buster' Douglas knocked him out in Tokyo in February 1990. Tyson returned in 1995 and won the WBC and WBA belts again in 1996 against Frank Bruno and Bruce Seldon.
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Later Career and Comeback
Two fights with Evander Holyfield followed, and in 2002 he challenged Lennox Lewis for the heavyweight title. He stepped away after 2005, but returned for an exhibition with Roy Jones Jr. in 2020 and a sanctioned bout against Jake Paul in November 2024, which Paul won on points.
Honours
World Titles
- WBC heavyweight champion: 1986–1990, 1996
- WBA heavyweight champion: 1987–1990, 1996
- IBF heavyweight champion: 1987–1990
- Undisputed and lineal champion: 1988–1990
Awards
- Ring magazine Fighter of the Year: 1986, 1988
- BWAA Sugar Ray Robinson Award: 1987, 1989
Halls of Fame
- International Boxing Hall of Fame: 2011
- WWE Hall of Fame: 2012
Away From the Game
Outside the ring Tyson has appeared in films including The Hangover, took his one-man show The Undisputed Truth, directed by Spike Lee, to Broadway in 2012, and hosts the podcast Hotboxin' with Mike Tyson. He also mentors young amateurs through the Mike Tyson Invitational. He has been married to Lakiha 'Kiki' Spicer since 2009.
FAQs
How old is Mike Tyson?
Mike Tyson was born on 30 June 1966, so he is 60.
Where was Mike Tyson born?
He was born in Brooklyn, New York City.
How tall is Mike Tyson?
Tyson is 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m), short for a heavyweight, with a 71-inch reach.
What is Mike Tyson's professional record?
50 wins (44 by knockout), 7 losses and 2 no contests from 59 professional fights.
How old was Mike Tyson when he became champion?
He was 20 years and 4 months old when he beat Trevor Berbick in November 1986, the youngest heavyweight champion ever.
Who beat Mike Tyson first?
James 'Buster' Douglas, who knocked him out in the tenth round in Tokyo on 11 February 1990.
Shop the Mike Tyson Collection
Icon frames, logos and badges: here is the pick of our Mike Tyson range.
Explore the full Mike Tyson collection and our boxing collection, or create your own fight-night custom name hoodie.
Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Muhammad Ali and Michael Jordan.
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