Mike Tyson and Julio Cesar Chavez selected today to the Boxing Hall of Fame

Former undisputed heavyweight champion “Iron Mike" Tyson was selected today for induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame and Museum.

Iconic Mexican pugilist Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. (107-6-2, 86 KOs) and past undisputed welterweight titlist Kostya Tszyu (31-2-0-1, 25 KOs) were also chosen for induction.

Inductees were voted on by members of the Boxing Writers Association of America and a panel of international boxing historians.

Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs), who remains, at 20, 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.

“At his best, there was nobody like him,” said Brad Sherwood, 30, a native of South Boston and an avid Tyson fan. “People tend to forget how good he was.”

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 professional losses is 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 historical attractions.

“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 soon do is become deservedly enshrined into boxing immortality.