Boxing

Mike Tyson’s worst-ever moments and scandals besides airplane attack

Mike Tysonā€™s career and persošŸ”Æna have long been clouded by controversy both inside andšŸ…ŗ outside the ring. Now, heā€™s brought that trouble with him thousands of feet in the air. 

Footage circulated April 21, 2022 of the 55-year-old former heavyweight champion of the world pummeling a fellow passenger with punches on a Wednesday night flight. Tyson and the passenger, who were on a Fā€lorida-bound plane from San Francisco, had repeatedly engaged throughout the flight, acź¦—cording to TMZ.Ā 

The passenger can be seen persistently leaning over and attešŸˆmpting to speak to Tyson, appearing to antagonize him. Tyson eventually rose, leaned over his seat and attacked the fellow passenger, throwing multiple punches. A source close to Tyson claimed the passenger was ā€œextremely intoxicated,ā€ according to the report. 

This isnā€™t the first time the controversiašŸ”Æl Tyson has been in the news. Hereā€™s a look at Tysonā€™s worst moments and scandals: 

Rape sentence 

In 1992, Tyson was convicted of raping 18-year-old Desiree Washington in an Indianapolis hotel room. He received a six-year prison sentence, but was rešŸ˜¼leased after just three years. He still maintains his innocence. 

Mike Tyson leaves the Marion County Courthouse in 1994.
Mike Tyson leaves the Marion County Courthouse in 1994. AFP/Getty Images

Marital issues with Robin Givens 

Tysonā€™s firšŸ¦‹st wife, Robin Givens, gave an explosive interview in 1989 detailing his šŸ¤Ŗdomestic assault and admitting she was scared of her husband. Givens, who later divorced Tyson, claimed their three-month marriage was ā€œtorture, pure hell, worse than anything I could possibly imagine.ā€ 

Mike Tyson and Robin givens (left).
Mike Tyson and Robin Givens (left). AFP/Getty Images

Bit Evander Holyfieldā€™s ear 

Tysonā€™s worst moment in the ring came amid his comeback after his prison sentence. In a rematch with Evander Holyfield, šŸŒŗwho had stopped Tyson in their first title bout a year prior, Tyson bit Holyfieldā€™s ear and was subsequently disqualified from the fight, fined, and suspended. 

Warning: Graphic content

Death threat to Lennox Lewis 

In the buildup to a 2002 fight with Lennox Lewis, Tyson declared his goal was to ā€œfight professionally but to kill him.ā€ It was not the only death threat issued by Tyson, who said of Donovan Ruddock before their 1991 fight: ā€œIf he dź¦æoesnā€™t die, it doesnā€™t count. If heā€™s not dead, it doesnā€™t count.ā€ 

Battles with drug addiction 

In his book, ā€œUndisputeāœ±d TšŸ’ƒruth,ā€ Tyson admits to battling with substance abuse and addiction throughout his early years and career, going so far as saying he was a ā€œfull-blown cokehead,ā€ and cheated his way through drug tests, sometimes even fighting while still under the influence of cocaine.