After The Tragic Death Of His Daughter, Will Mike Tyson Survive?

Mike Tyson’s four-year-old daughter, Exodus, died Tuesday at Phoenix’s St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center after she suffered a terrible accident playing on an exercise treadmill at her home.

According to reports, Exodus was discovered by her seven-year-old brother, Miguel, unconscious and tangled in a cord Monday afternoon.

Miguel found their mother who untangled Exodus and administered CPR on her child before she called for medical attention.

Exodus was immediately placed on life support in the hospital until she succumbed to her injuries the following afternoon.

"There are no words to describe the tragic loss of our beloved Exodus," the family said in a statement. "We ask you now to please respect our need at this very difficult time for privacy to grieve and try to help each other heal."

Exodus’ death is the latest and most awful chapter to date in Tyson’s horribly troubled life.

“Kid Dynamite,” a Brooklyn product who was arrested 38 times by the age of 13 for committing various petty crimes, became the youngest boxer to ever win the WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight titles at 20 years of age in 1986.

The person most responsible for Tyson’s transformation from street thug to prizefighter was legendary trainer Cus D’Amato.

D’Amato taught Tyson, 42, everything he knew in regard to the “sweet science” and he eventually adopted the precocious pugilist into his family.

Prior to Tyson’s emergence, the sport of boxing had never before seen a fighter with such outstanding hand speed, accuracy, coordination, power and timing.

Tyson was deemed “The Baddest Man on the Planet” and no opponent seemed capable of challenging the physical marvel in the ring.

Sadly, D’Amato died in November of 1985 and his death and subsequent lack of guidance initiated a chain of events that halted Tyson’s vast potential.

In 2003, Tyson, who Ring Magazine ranked #16 on its list of the 100 greatest punchers of all-time, declared bankruptcy despite having earned in excess of $300 million in the ring.

Two years after he filed for Chapter 11, Tyson retired from boxing with a record of 50-6 with 44 knockouts after he lost to a journeyman named Kevin McBride in Washington, DC.

In the aftermath of his loss to McBride, Tyson was quoted in the USA Today as saying, "My whole life has been a waste. I've been a failure. I just want to escape. I'm really embarrassed with myself and my life."

Since his retirement, Tyson appeared to have reached a level of genuine contentment with his existence and place in society.

“Iron Mike” promoted a new documentary about his life titled Tyson and he revealed earlier this month to The New York Times that he had been sober for 15 months after years of drug and alcohol abuse.

"I don't know who I am," Tyson admitted. "That might sound stupid. I really have no idea. All my life I've been drinking and drugging and partying, and all of a sudden this comes to a stop."

D’Amato once sagely philosophized to his pupil that “nature is a lot smarter than anybody thinks. During the course of a man's life he develops a lot of pleasures and people he cares about. Then nature takes them away one by one. It's her way of preparing you for death."

Mike Tyson’s care and love for his baby girl, Exodus, was reportedly absolute and a ghastly freak of nature took her away from him this past week.

As an outsider with zero direct knowledge of Tyson’s mental state, one should have concern for “Iron Mike’s” welfare.

Tyson has overcome more obstacles in his life than most individuals could even fathom.

However, the heartbreaking loss of Exodus may ultimately prove too much for Tyson to conquer.

As Tyson once ominously said, “I just want to escape.”

One can only hope that this isn’t nature’s evil way of preparing Tyson for death by his own hands.

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