Mike Tyson is best known for his successful boxing career but has been out of the public eye since 2005. Although he’s making a comeback, his journey hasn’t been without hardships, overcoming challenges that few people, or parents, can imagine.
Mike Tyson Announces Retirement
Mike Tyson announced in 2005 that he would be retiring from his renowned boxing career. During an emotional interview, following his loss to Roy Jones Jr., he made the announcement and it left fans feeling heartbroken or disappointed.
Mike Tyson Appeared on the Big Screen
Although he quit boxing, Mike Tyson has tried his hand at acting, appearing in the hit comedy The Hangover. However, his struggles as a parent are not only heart wrenching but in many ways, very relatable for parents everywhere.
Mike Tyson Talks About Parenthood
Mike Tyson has fathered seven children, and accepted his second wife’s daughter as one of his own. In November 2024, he sat down with USA Today for an interview in which he disclosed that parenthood has been a “long journey.” Sadly, his hardest challenge came in 2009 when he suffered the unexpected and untimely loss of his 4-year-old daughter, Exodus. Exodus became entangled in a treadmill cord and accidentally strangled herself. To make matters worse, her body was found in their home in Phoenix, Arizona by her brother Morocco, who was 7 at the time.
Commenting on Tyson’s Unexpected Loss
Sgt Andy Hill from the Phoenix Police Department commented on the tragedy, stating: “We believe the child was on the treadmill but it was not running at the time. She might have been playing like it was.”
Exodus was placed on life support and Mike Tyson didn’t hesitate to be by his little girl’s side. Unfortunately, she passed away leaving Tyson and his family to pick up the pieces of their broken hearts and move forward.
A Strained Family
Meanwhile, Mike Tyson explained that his relationship with his other children was also very strained. “You know, I was a young kid. I was really basically only based my life on my career.” He explained. “I didn’t think much about my children. I was very self-centered at that time.”
However, he’s since developed better relationships. “As time went on in life, going through adversity, we’ve grown and gained a bond and we’re friends now,’’ he said. “But I had to go through the difficulties,” he said. “But I had to go through the difficulties to receive the ease and I’ve very happy to have gone through the difficulties with them.’’
Thriving Beyond Hardships
Incredibly, Mike Tyson’s children, ranging from 13-years-old to mid-30s, have all done some incredible things with their careers and influence. For example, his son Miguel has partnered with Prince Jackson to contribute to The Heal Los Angeles Foundation. Meanwhile, his 16-year-old daughter, Milan has a seemingly bright future in Tennis. Lastly, his youngest child, a son named Morocco, has a social media page that showcases his full potential as a boxer and in taekwondo.
Notable Accomplishments
The family has overcome numerous hardships and come out stronger and more capable individuals who, as a result, seemingly make a stronger family unit. Although Mike Tyson and his family have overcome unimaginable hardships, he’s a proud father whose children have accomplished great things and are continuing to do so.
Interestingly, his emotional interview from 2005 has recently resurfaced. Likely, due to his decision to come out of retirement.
Mike Tyson Gets Back in the Ring
On November 15, 2024, Mike Tyson got back in the ring to fight it out with former YouTuber Jake Paul. The match took place in Dallas, Texas, at the AT&T stadium. The fight aired “exclusively on Netflix,” according to the Mirror.
Mike Tyson’s Impressive Career
During the height of his career, Mike Tyson was worth $400 million, according to sports illustrated, and was offered numerous sponsorships. He made history as the youngest heavyweight champion when he was only 20 years old. Later, he went on to win numerous titles including the WBA, WBC, and IBF.
Doing it “for the Fans”
Mike Tyson recently shared that his decision to get back into the ring is the result of his popularity. Purportedly, fans wanted him to come out of retirement. Although he lost that fight, it was the largest arena he’s ever matched in and there were between 60 and 80,000 tickets sold. He said: “58. I’m going to fight in the biggest arena ever and it’s going to be sold out, and who else can do that?”
Read More: Mike Tyson Admits He Was Confused and Thought Hasbulla Was a Baby When Picking Him Up in Viral Video