Former heavyweight boxing icon, Mike Tyson, faced allegations of s**ually assaulting 18-year-old beauty pageant participant Desiree Washington and was convicted by an Indiana jury.
Subsequently, Tyson received a 10-year prison sentence, of which four years were suspended.
Tyson shot to stardom in 1986 after defeating Trevor Berbick, securing the record for the youngest heavyweight champion at just 20 years old.
Hailing from Brooklyn, New York, Tyson had a turbulent upbringing that led him to a reform school in upstate New York.
It was there that his boxing prowess was uncovered, flourishing under the guidance of renowned trainer Cus D’Amato.
Debuting professionally in 1985, Tyson clinched the heavyweight title in 1986, maintaining it until his defeat by James “Buster” Douglas in 1990.
In July 1991, Tyson crossed paths with Desiree Washington during a Miss Black America pageant rehearsal in Indianapolis.
Following their encounter, Washington accompanied Tyson to his hotel room where the alleged assault took place in the early hours of July 19.
While Tyson contended that the encounter was consensual, a grand jury indicted the celebrated boxer in September of the same year, leading to his conviction in February 1992.
Serving his time at the Indiana Youth Center near Plainfield, Tyson was released in March 1995 after completing three years behind bars.
After his release, Tyson briefly reclaimed the heavyweight championship in 1996 but continued to be embroiled in a series of controversies.
Notably, during a match against Evander Holyfield in 1997, Tyson infamously bit off a portion of Holyfield’s ear, resulting in a temporary suspension of his boxing license.
Tyson also faced legal troubles, serving a jail term for assaulting motorists post a traffic incident.
Moreover, grappling with substance abuse and financial downturns due to squandering his amassed millions, Tyson’s professional career concluded abruptly in 2005 when he abandoned a fight against Kevin McBride.
