Timeline

Mike Gerard Tyson is born in Brooklyn, New York to Lorna Tyson and Jimmy Kirkpatrick.

Tyson, 12, is arrested in Brooklyn for purse-snatching and sent to Tryon School for Boys.

A boxing instructor at a New York State correction facility for boys brought Tyson to the attention of Cus D’Amato, who had guided Floyd Patterson to the heavyweight title.

D’Amato becomes Tyson’s legal guardian.

In his professional debut, Tyson defeats Hector Mercedes in one round.

D’Amato dies of pneumonia.

Tyson knocks out Trevor Berbick in the second round, winning the WBC heavyweight title to become the youngest heavyweight champion in history at age 20.

Tyson weds actress Robin Givens in New York.

Robin Givens and her family publicly accuse Tyson of domestic violence.

Tyson is knocked unconscious after driving his BMW into a tree. Three days later, the New York Daily News reports the accident was a «suicide attempt» caused by a «chemical imbalance» that made him violent and irrational.

Tyson is disqualified after the third round of his rematch with Holyfield after he bites Holyfield twice, once on each ear. Tyson claims he was retaliating for a head butt inflicted by Holyfield that opened up a gash above his right eye. Referee Mills Lane ruled the butt was accidental.

Rap artist 50 Cent purchases Tyson’s 48,000-square-foot mansion in Farmington, Connecticut for $4.1 million.

Tyson is knocked out in the fourth round by Danny Williams in Louisville, Kentucky.

Tyson launched the Mike Tyson Cares Foundation. The mission of the Mike Tyson Cares Foundation is to “give kids a fighting chance” by providing innovative centers that provide for the comprehensive needs of kids from broken homes.

Tyson released his book Undisputed Truth, which also made it on the The New York Times Best Seller list.