Mike Tyson, whose real name is Michael Gerard Tyson, who was born on June 30, 1966, is a former professional boxer hailing from Brooklyn, New York. Renowned for his raw power, intimidating presence, and lightning-fast knockouts, Tyson is regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time. He burst onto the scene in the 1980s, becoming the youngest heavyweight champion in history at the age of 20.
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Tyson’s ferocious fighting style, characterized by his devastating punches and relentless aggression, captivated audiences worldwide. His professional career was marked by numerous triumphs, including victories over boxing legends such as Larry Holmes, Frank Bruno, and Evander Holyfield.
However, Tyson’s life also faced its fair share of personal and legal challenges. He served time in prison for a conviction in 1992 and faced other legal troubles throughout his career. Despite the setbacks, Tyson remains an iconic figure in the world of boxing, leaving an indelible impact on the sport and maintaining a prominent presence in popular culture.
Additionally, the boxing icon was also rumored to be into men. So, is it true? Is Mike Tyson gay? Let’s find out.
VOTE: What is Mike Tyson’s Sexuality?
Mike Tyson’s Relationships
It is unclear how the gay rumors about Mike Tyson started, but here’s a quick look at his messy and controversial dating history to better understand his sexuality.
Mike Tyson and Lakiha Spicer (2009 – Present)
Mike Tyson married his third wife, Lakiha Spicer, on June 6, 2009, and they have been together ever since. The couple first met when Spicer was just 18 years old.
She met him after one of his fights as reported by The Sun. After just one month of going out together, Tyson’s promoter, Don King, advised the controversial boxer to “stay away from her.”
Spicer was sentenced to prison in 2008 following a fraud conviction She, however, discovered she was pregnant with Tyson’s child a week before she began serving her sentence. She served six months behind bars and gave birth shortly after her release. She then reconnected with Tyson who, at that time, was struggling with addiction. Tyson considered his relationship with her to be “a life-saving experience.”
I’m very happy me and my wife got together, because I don’t know how I would have survived out there.”
Tyson told US magazine People
The couple got married on June 6, 2009. It was Spicer’s first marriage and Tyson’s third. They had two children, Milan, 14, and Morocco, 1.
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Mike Tyson and Monica Turner (1997 – 2003)
Prior to marrying his third wife, Lakiha Spicer, Tyson was in a marriage with Monica Turner. The couple was together from 1997 to 2003.
The couple first met at a party hosted by Eddie Murphy, who starred alongside Tyson’s first wife, Robin Givens. Despite Tyson’s conviction for the rape of 18-year-old beauty pageant contestant Desiree Washington, and his subsequent three-year sentence in an Indiana jail, the pair still kept in touch. It was reported that Turner would frequently visit Tyson in jail.
When the controversial boxer was released, the two moved in together and started a quiet life in Maryland. They got married seven years after their first meeting in a quiet Muslim ceremony.
The pair, however, ended their relationship in 2003 when Turner filed for divorce, citing adultery.
They have two children together, Rayna and Amir.
Mike Tyson and Robin Givens (1988 – 1989)
The most controversial marriage Tyson had was with his first wife, actress Robin Givens. Their relationship occurred when the boxer was at the height of his fame.
The couple got married just 11 months after their first date, during which they were reportedly accompanied by her mother and publicist.
My social skills consisted of putting a guy in a coma. So maybe Robin was just what the doctor ordered.”
Mike Tyson wrote in his memoir, Undisputed Truth
Givens became pregnant, so they needed to arrange a wedding promptly. Unfortunately, she suffered a miscarriage. Tyson revealed that she initially informed him of her pregnancy, but later disclosed the miscarriage. He had already provided her and her mother with £3 million to purchase a New Jersey estate and deposited £6.5 million into another account for them when he learned about the miscarriage.
In a TV interview, Givens revealed that she was scared of Tyson and found him intimidating. Later, she was discovered in bed with Brad Pitt even before filing for divorce from her husband.
In addition to his three marriages, the boxing icon was also romantically linked to other women.
From 1986 to 1987, he was associated with American model Beverly Johnson.
He was also in a relationship with American model Suzette Charles in 1989.
For one year, Tyson also dated British supermodel Naomi Campbell. They were together from 1989 to 1990.
He was also rumored to have been involved with American adult model Coco Johnsen in 1996.
Tyson was also linked to American actress Lauren Woodland at some point in 2001.
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In 2003, the boxer was in a relationship with Dominican actress Luz Whitney.
From 2004 t0 2005, he was in a relationship with Sol Xochitl. They had a daughter together named Exodus, born in 2005, who passed away in 2009 in a tragic accident.
In 2006, Mike Tyson was rumored to have dated Sudanese writer Kola Boof.
He also dated Big Brother alumna Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace for three years. They were together from 2006 to 2009 and were even rumored to have been engaged at one point.
Although the exact date is unclear, he was also in a relationship with Kimberly Scarborough. They had a daughter together named Mikey Lorna, who was born in 1990.
The controversial athlete was also romantically linked to Brazilian TV personality Luciana Gimenez, American actress Kenya Moore, and American author Pam Pinnock, although the exact dates of these relationships are unknown.
Is Mike Tyson Gay?
No, Mike Tyson is not gay. The controversial boxing icon identifies as straight, considering the fact that he has been married three times already, has exclusively been in relationships and flings with women in the past, and has never identified himself as gay. He is currently in his third marriage with Lakiha Spicer, whom he married in 2009.