African Celebrities: Mike Tyson

Mike Tyson is an American retired professional boxer, former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight titles at 20 years.

Mike Tyson was born on June 30, 1966 in Brooklyn, New York City to Lorna Smith Tyson and Jimmy Kirkpatrick. His father, Jimmy Kirkpatrick abandoned the Tyson family around the time Mike Tyson was born, leaving Tyson's mother to care for the children on her own.

Mike Tyson has a brother Rodney, who is five years older than he is, and a half brother Jimmie Lee Kirkpatrick (his father's son). His sister, Denise, died of a heart attack at age 24 in 1990. Mike Tyson's brother, Rodney is a physician assistant in the trauma center of the Los Angeles County - University of Southern California Medical Center. He has always been very supportive of his brother's career and was often seen at Tyson's boxing matches in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Mike Tyson dropped out of high school as a junior and never graduated. In 1989, along with Don King, he was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio by University President Arthur E. Thomas.

Mike Tyson won his first 19 professional bouts by knockout, 12 of them in the first round. He won the WBC title in 1986 after defeating Trevor Berbick by a TKO in the second round. In 1987, Mike Tyson added the WBA and IBF titles after defeating James Smith and Tony Tucker. He was the first heavyweight boxer to simultaneously hold the WBA, WBC and IBF titles. He is considered one of the best heavyweights of all time.

Mike Tyson retired from professional boxing in 2006, after being knocked out in consecutive matches against Danny Williams and Kevin McBride.

Mike Tyson has been married three times and has eight children with several different women.

His first marriage was to actress Robin Givens, from February 7, 1988 to February 14, 1989. Tyson and Robin Givens had no children.

His second marriage was to Monica Turner, from April 19, 1997 to January 14, 2003. At the time of the divorce filing, Monica Turner worked as a pediatric resident at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington DC. Mike Tyson and Monica Turner had two children, Rayna and Amir.

Mike Tyson wed for the third time to long - time girlfriend Lakiha 'Kiki' Spicer. They exchanged vows on June, 2009, in a short, private ceremony . Lakiha 'Kiki' Spicer is the mother of Tyson's daughter Milan and son Morocco.

Tyson's other children include Mikey Tyson (born 1990), D'Amato (born 1990) and Miguel (born 2002). Mike Tyson has a total of eight children including the deceased Exodus, who died on May 26, 2009 at age 4.

Mike Tyson

Mike Tyson and his wife Lakiha Spicer Tyson 'Kiki'

Mike Tyson and his children

Mike Tyson and his children, Morocco (left) and Milan (right)

Mike Tyson and his daughter Gina. Gina is Mike Tyson's step daughter from his previous marriage to Dr. Monica Turner.

Mike Tyson and his daughter, Milan

Mike Tyson and his wife Lakiha 'Kiki' and daughter, Milan

Mike Tyson, his wife Lakiha 'Kiki' and rapper Snoop Dogg

Mike Tyson and his wife Lakiha 'Kiki'

Mike Tyson and his wife Lakiha 'Kiki' and daughter, Milan

(Left to right) Randy Johnson, director and co - writer of "Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth - Live on Stage, Lakiha Spicer Tyson 'Kiki', Mike Tyson and Founder and CEO of SPI Entertainment Adam Steck (creator and producer of Mike Tyson's one man)