Mike Tyson went to hell and came back again.
Formerly the baddest man on the planet turned into a sleek fighting machine stunned the world this year, sparking unprecedented interest in his comeback bout with boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. on September 13th.
The 54-year-old recently opened his 60+ kg battle after his health and wellbeing spiraled out of control following his first retirement from boxing.
His battle against the Bulge was in every way the dramatic roller coaster ride that many of his heavyweight title bouts have proven.
A terrifying, dedicated gym trainer, Tyson had an insane ability to rip during his famous battle camps – and showed as much dexterity as he undone all of his formidable conditioning in the weeks and months following his bouts.
Like so many other retired athletes, with no routine and no reason to stay fit, Tyson gained over 70 kg after his last professional fight against Kevin McBride in 2005.
Within just two years of the spotlight and demands of exercise, Tyson was spotted back in 2007 as he climbed over 170 kg.
It wasn’t the same person who was known to rise to the heavyweight division as a teenager, with 27 insane sanctioned fights within 18 months before he got his first title shot in November 1987.
He made his debut as a 16-year-old weighing 97 kg when he entered the ring for the first time with a TKO win against Hector Mercedes.
As an 18-year-old in an impossible streak of 27 unbeaten fights, Tyson weighed over 100kg for the first time in his career when he became the youngest heavyweight champion in history with a win over Trevor Berbick.
He stayed at around 100kg for his first tenure as a heavyweight champion until he was shockingly convicted of rape after an incident in 1991.
Tyson has been convicted of rape of 18-year-old beauty contest contestant Desiree Washington – the Miss Black Rhode Island contestant for the Miss Black American contest.
After losing his heavyweight crown to Buster Douglas in shock the previous year and also divorcing ex-wife Robin Givens, Tyson’s career was on the ropes.
Photos of his arrest in 1991 showed that he had climbed to over 150 pounds.
Because of the rape conviction, he was sentenced to a 10-year prison term including four years in prison following a high-level criminal case in 1992.
Tyson was released from prison in 1995 after serving three years behind bars.
He returned the same torn beast the world remembered before his prison sentence – weighing under 100kg for his comeback fight with Peter McNeeley.
The victory over McNeeley is among the most torn Tyson has ever seen in the world.
The 29-year-old was back – and hungrier than ever to regain his belt.
He regained the heavyweight crown with a win over Frank Bruno in 1996 before losing the title to Evander Holyfield in the most iconic bouts of his career.
When Tyson lowered his head and took one final push to become a heavyweight champion, he tipped the scales almost 10 kg heavier than his ideal weight.
He never returned to that insane condition, retiring from his career and weighing between 105 and 115 kg – but his training regime was still scary.
He said that in 2003, part of his daily exercise regimen included 2,500 sit-ups while putting a 20-pound weight on himself.
He now weighs about 150 pounds and is in the best shape the world has seen him since his last fight 15 years ago.
He once weighed 172 kg after retiring, but counted exercise and dietary changes as a recipe for weight loss.
Tyson has never spoken publicly about why he lost his trademark stamina after his career in 2005 – but the story of athletes who got lost and lost their weight after career is a story as old as the time is.
From those dark years after his career to date, Tyson has lost a staggering 63 kg, more than 140 pounds.
He stepped on the tough courts with MMA trainer Rafael Cordeiro and it works.
Tyson previously said his motivation to get back in shape came from his family’s struggle against obesity.
“My whole family is obese and all, and my goal was not to die like that,” Tyson told SiriusXM digital radio station.
“I didn’t mean to die like that. And I respect them and love them, don’t judge them, I just didn’t want to live my life like that. I didn’t want to limit my life.
“You are what you eat. I don’t eat bread, I don’t eat anything like carbohydrates, like potatoes. I don’t eat anything that increases, nothing that contains calories.
“I eat things with the fewest possible calories. Blueberries, fish or something very rare.
“It’s been a plant-based diet lately and I can eat some fish or chicken every month or two. But other than that just plant-based, fruit and all that stuff. And hard cardio. “
Cordeiro insisted that Tyson still wields the same power in May that he had during his prime.
Earlier this year he told ESPN journalist Ariel Helwani: “He has not hit gloves for almost 10 years. So I wasn’t expecting to see what I was seeing.
“I’ve seen a man with the same speed and strength as the 21-22 year olds.
“Like I said, 53 years old, but when he focuses on it, his body in the ring – he changes.
“When you talk about power, I would hold his right hook and think, ‘He’s going to kill someone.’
“When I hold gloves, I like to hold them close to my face and the first time I saw his right hook and I’ve seen my whole life [flash before me]. ”
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