Mike Tyson Will be Deservedly Enshrined into the Boxing Hall Of Fame

Colin Linneweber

Feb 20, 2010

Former undisputed heavyweight champion “Iron” Mike Tyson was informed Friday that he will be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in upstate New York sometime in early-2011.

“Mike is so delighted,” said a Tyson representative. “It has been an amazing year for him so far.”

Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs), who at 20 years was the youngest man to ever win the WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles, was an enormously skilled boxer who beautifully intertwined his outstanding hand speed and accuracy with his ferocious punching power.

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Primarily because of his personal demons and the parasites that he allowed himself to be surrounded by, Tyson’s career unraveled and he never fulfilled his staggering potential as a prizefighter.

Instead of being recognized as one of the greatest pugilists ever, Tyson is now considered by many onlookers to be nothing more than a cannibalistic, convicted rapist.

Granted, “Iron Mike” is an extraordinarily polarizing figure and his induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame will inevitably generate great criticism.

Nevertheless, despite his notorious past, Tyson deserves to be recognized as one of the elite boxers to ever step into a ring.

Tyson, who Ring Magazine ranked No. 16 on their list of the 100 greatest punchers of all-time in 2003, was a worn fighter in the twilight of his career when he was defeated by knockout in three of his last four bouts.

Hence, the product of Brooklyn’s six losses as a professional are a tad misleading.

At the peak of his abilities, on a given evening, Mike Tyson could have knocked any boxer ever onto Queer Street.

Fairly or unfairly, Tyson is mainly renowned for his strength and intimidation.

“I don’t try to intimidate anybody before a fight,” Tyson, 43, was quoted as saying. “I intimidate people by hitting them.”

However, many mistakenly dismiss “Iron Mike’s” incredible defensive skills.

When his Peek-a-Boo protection was still in vintage form, Tyson seamlessly weaved out of the way of his opponents punches while he closed in to launch one of his frighteningly explosive combinations.

There is an old saying that, “Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with that talent is your gift back to God.”

Provided there is a God, Tyson certainly didn’t give him back any gifts for the boxing capabilities he was blessed with.

Still, Tyson absolutely repaid the sport of boxing as one of its greatest attractions in history.

“When you see me smash somebody’s skull, you enjoy it,” Tyson once menacingly, and correctly, stated. “I know I’m going to blow one day. My life is doomed the way it is. I have no future.”

Mike Tyson does have a “future” and one of the things he will do in the forthcoming months is to become deservedly enshrined into boxing immortality.

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