Boxing legend Mike Tyson had a life that was covered extensively by the media. Though very few details of his life remain unexplored, there are some facts about this amazing athlete that have inexplicably slipped through the cracks. Here, we present 15 things you didn’t know about Mike Tyson, in two parts. Check out part one below, and stay tuned for part two, coming soon!
Number Fifteen: He Was Abstinent for Five Years. Tyson believed that having sex before a match would make him weak, so for five years he refused to have sex. This is by no means a new concept, though; many fighters believe that keeping things kosher in the bedroom will lead to a stronger and more focused fight.
Number Fourteen: He Has an Honorary Doctorate. In 1989, Tyson was given an honorary doctorate from Central State University. Ironically, Tyson never graduated high school. According to Central State University’s president at the time, Arthur Thomas, “Mike demonstrates that hard work, determination, and perseverance that can enable one to overcome any obstacles.”
Number Thirteen: He Once Had Gonorrhea. In fact, Tyson had gonorrhea during his championship fight against Trevor Berbick in 1986. According to Tyson, during the match, he was “burning like a Good Humor in July.”
Number Twelve: He Made More Than Michael Jordan. Well, sort of. In 1990, Tyson became the world’s highest-paid athlete, including Michael Jordan. He made $28.6 million in 1990. Michael Jordan, on the other hand, made only $8.1 million that year.
Number Eleven: He Once Beat Up Seven Prostitutes. When Tyson was high on morphine, cocaine and alcohol in 2009, he beat up seven prostitutes in one night. He now says that the incident helped to inspire him to get sober.
Number Ten: He’s Not That Highly Regarded by ESPN. On ESPN’s list of the 50 Greatest Boxers of All Time, Tyson is only number 50! Despite this, remains one of the world’s most famous and popularized boxers of all time.
Number Nine: He Has a Simpsons Character. In 1991, a character debuted on The Simpsons named Drederick Tatum who was very clearly a parody of Mike Tyson. The character had a criminal record, a higher-than-normal voice with a lisp, and a mansion of exotic animals.