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Mike Tyson Timeline

  • Story Highlights
  • Tyson unifies WBA, WBC and IBF titles in 1987
  • Found guilty of rape in 1992, sentenced to ten years
  • Attempts comeback in 1996, bites Holyfield on ear
  • Convicted of possession on narcotics and DUI in late 2007
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By Simon Laub
For CNN
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1966 Mike Gerard Tyson is born.

Tyson (L) and Toback (R) attend a press conference for 'Tyson' at the Cannes International Film Festival, May 2008

1979 Meets coach Cus D'Amato a father figure, who five years later will become his legal guardian.

1985 In his professional debut, Tyson destroys Hector Mercedes in one round. 7 months later D'Amato dies of pneumonia.

1986 Tyson knocks out Trevor Berbick, winning the WBC heavyweight title to become the youngest heavyweight champion in history at age 20.

1987 Tyson defeats James "Bonecrusher" Smith to win the WBA heavyweight title and later Tony Tucker to win the IBF heavyweight crown to unify the world titles.

1988 Tyson weds actress Robin Givens in New York. 8 months later Givens files for divorce amidst claims of domestic violence. In October, Tyson announces his partnership with controversial promoter Don King.

1990 Tyson is knocked out by James "Buster" Douglas in the 10th round and loses his world heavyweight title.

1991 Desiree Washington files a complaint with police accusing Tyson of rape.

1992 Tyson is found guilty of rape and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

1995 Tyson is released from the Indiana Youth Center near Plainfield, Indiana. Begins his comeback by knocking out Peter McNeeley in Las Vegas and Buster Mathis Jnr. in Philadelphia.

1996 Knocks out Frank Bruno and Bruce Seldon, both in Las Vegas, both fights gaining Tyson WBA heavyweight titles. Later loses title to Evander Holyfield.

1997 Tyson bites Evander Holyfield and is disqualified in their rematch. Two weeks later Tyson's boxing license is revoked and he is fined $3 million.

1998 Tyson Files a $100 million lawsuit against Don King, accusing the promoter of cheating him out of tens of millions of dollars.

2000 In a bout with Lou Savarese, Tyson knocks the referee down in order to keep punching Savarese after the bout was stopped. Tyson was fined $187,500.

2002 A press conference to announce the Tyson - Lennox Lewis fight breaks into an all-out brawl. Tyson later admits to having bitten Lewis during the melee. In June, Tyson is knocked out by Lewis.

2003 Tyson is divorced from his wife Monica, with whom he has two children. Tyson files for bankruptcy.

2004 In an interview, Tyson announces that since declaring bankruptcy: "I've got nowhere to live. I've been literally sleeping in shelters. Unsavory characters are giving me money and I'm taking it. I need it".

2005 Tyson fails to come out for the seventh round against Kevin McBride. Soon after he announces his retirement from boxing.

2006 Tyson is arrested in Arizona, on suspicion of driving under the influence and felony drug possession.

2007 Pleads guilty to possession of narcotics and driving under the influence. He is convicted in November.

2008 James Toback's film "Tyson" is shown at the Cannes Film Festival

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