In the realm of professional boxing, few names evoke as much awe and admiration as that of heavyweight legend Mike Tyson. Throughout his career, Tyson showcased his unparalleled skill and ferocity inside the squared circle, leaving a lasting impact on the sport.
But recent revelations have shed light on a previously hidden aspect of the boxing world. Tyson recently disclosed the influence of a particular referee in his matches.
March 1986 marked the beginning of Tyson’s professional journey, and what a spectacular one it was. Within a mere 18 months, Tyson amassed an impressive record of 27 consecutive victories that catapulted him into the realm of boxing greatness.
His relentless pursuit of success paid off when he earned his first shot at the heavyweight title. Subsequently, Tyson went on to dominate the boxing scene. He held multiple prestigious titles simultaneously, including the WBA, WBC, IBF, and The Ring heavyweight championships.
But as it turns out, a specific official who officiated over many matches may have given Tyson a little assistance in the ring.
In a recently surfaced video clip shared by JoeBuddenTV , Tyson points out a photo of himself posing next to a referee while apparently out for the evening. Tyson confirmed by saying: “He was a referee for a bunch of my fights.”
Tyson responded in the affirmative when asked if it was illegal for him to be friends with a referee given his position as a well-known professional boxer. He stated: “It was. Cause if I’m having a tough fight and I rock the guy, he’ll stop it quick. It’s in the business, man. That’s what we do.”
Further elaborating on the relationship, Tyson mentioned that the referee had witnessed his debut match and subsequently officiated many of his matches. This connection seemed to have fostered a favorable bias towards Tyson.
He continued: “He saw me my first fight. Now he’s refereeing my fights. He favors me than the other… He see me as a kid coming up.” Tyson also said that referees advance through the ranks in a similar manner as combatants. He said, “They earn the opportunity to work bigger fights.
Over the course of his 20-year career, Tyson amassed an impressive record of 50 wins and only 6 losses. 44 of his wins came by way of knockout. Despite his meteoric rise to fame and fortune, Tyson’s journey was riddled with controversies and personal struggles.
In March 1992, Tyson was convicted of r*ping an 18-year-old woman in an Indianapolis hotel room. He received a six-year prison sentence. After serving three years, Tyson was released in March 1995 and wasted no time in reclaiming his position in the boxing world.
When he first faced fellow boxing star Evander Holyfield in November 1996, he lost the WBA belt. Seven months later, they met again in a highly anticipated rematch. One of the most infamous incidents in boxing history occurred during the rematch when Tyson notoriously chewed a chunk of Holyfield’s ear off, leading to the disqualification.
Tyson and Holyfield are now friends and collaborate to advertise their candies, aptly dubbed Mike Bites and Holy Ears.