in full Michael Gerald Tyson
born June 30, 1966, Brooklyn, N.Y., U.S.
U.S. boxer.
A member of street gangs in his youth, Tyson was sent to reform school, where his boxing talent was discovered. He turned professional in 1985 and won the heavyweight title in 1986 by defeating Trevor Berbick, becoming, at age 20, the youngest heavyweight champion in history. He defended the title against Larry Holmes , Michael Spinks, and eight others before losing in an upset to James ("Buster") Douglas in 1990. In 1992 he was convicted of rape and sentenced to six years in prison; he was released on parole in 1995. In 1996 he challenged but lost to Evander Holyfield ; in a 1997 rematch he was disqualified for biting off a piece of Holyfield's ear, and his license was revoked. In 1999 Tyson regained his boxing license and returned to the ring. In his bout against British heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis in 2002, Lewis twice knocked Tyson to the canvas before knocking him out in the eighth round.