Sad tale of mike tyson
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Once he claimed he was the “baddest man on the planet”, but many now regard him as the saddest.Former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson has arguably become one of the most pitiful personalities in sport.
It was apparent when Tyson travelled to Britain for speaking engagements last year. He made few friends and upset many admirers when he turned against the sport that had made him rich and famous.
“I hate boxing,” Tyson told the Brits. “It has been the cause of all my troubles.”
A week later, he was guest of honour at an amateur box-and-dine show outside London. Looking relaxed and happy, he couldn’t hide his excitement while watching the bouts .
I just cant imagine having such opportunities as Mike did and completlely blowing it. Hot wife, big bucks and a social status of king of the ring. Now he is broke, a rapist and famous ear biter.
Although Tyson now blames boxing for all his troubles, much of the pain has been self- inflicted. No sooner had he returned to the US than he was arrested for driving under the influence in Arizona.
He later admitted to possessing cocaine when he was stopped for driving erratically in Scottsdale on December 29. He faces up to four years in prison when he is sentenced on Monday next week .
Tyson still denies raping beauty queen Desiree Washington and passes off many of his other indiscretions with a shrug.
Asked to comment on Fransie Botha’s claim that he attempted to break his arm in their Las Vegas fight, Tyson merely said with a smile: “That’s correct.”
Nor has anyone forgotten his threat to tear out the heart of Lennox Lewis and to eat his children. The British Boxing Board of Control were so horrified they decided not to allow Tyson to box in Britain again. After all, this was the same man who was banned from boxing after he bit off a piece of Evander Holyfield’s ear.
Mike has just got to be crazy. Or its the punch drunk result of a life of being hit. Then again mix it in with alcohol, drugs and who knows what. The result is - Mike Tyson.
Another sad story is that of “Prince” Naseem Hamed:
The former world boxing champion “Prince” Naseem Hamed has been stripped of his MBE following his 15-month prison sentence for dangerous driving.The London Gazette, which records honours and is an official newspaper of the Crown, said: “The Queen has directed that the appointment of Naseem Hamed to be a Member of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, dated 31 December 1998, shall be cancelled and annulled and that his name shall be erased from the Register of the said Order
I remember seeing Mike in the early days and also the hype around his fights. Big hits, weaving and bobbing and his constant knock-outs within the first round. He was incredible and worthy of fear and respect. Now it is just shame and regret. So sad.
Thanks largely to three books — Fire and Fear, Bad Intentions and Blood Season — Tyson’s inner thoughts and sexual prowess first became public knowledge in 1989.
But while all three books revealed Tyson’s appetite for sex, the most damning was written by his former friend Jose Torres.
Tyson, I suspect, has always needed a father figure to give him guidance (D’Amato legally adopted him when he became his trainer) and when Jacobs and D’Amato died, Tyson turned to others, including Torres and promoter Don King, but with disastrous results.
Nowadays, Tyson feels so unwanted in the US he often expresses a desire to “go back to his roots”.
South African promoter Lionel Kubheka picked up the vibes four years ago and offered Tyson the opportunity to be inducted into the Zulu tribe. Kubheka got permission from the Zulu royal household to make the offer but while Tyson expressed a keen interest , nothing came of it.
Instead, Mike continues to put down himself and his sport and faces yet another term in prison.
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