Mike Tyson: The Price of Fame

They say that fame has a price. Behind the limelight, there is an unknown world filled with luxury cars, beautiful women who are willing to give themselves to you, non-stop parties, and an endless stream of alcohol. Of course, this world is restricted to a privileged few, so mere mortals have no place there. However, living in a world of glitz and glamor comes at a high price and Mike Tyson is living proof of that.

Perhaps there has never been anyone as famous in the ring as Tyson. This power was truly a God of Strife: his magnificent feats of strength and his undisputed victories made him invincible. True to form, this phenomenon boasted a string of victories under its belt and no one but the great Ali himself has managed to make such a huge impact on the world of boxing.

Tyson’s childhood was not easy. His father abandoned his small family and his sister passed away due to a heart attack. He was orphaned at sixteen and since then, the young boxer knew that he only had to depend on himself and his two fists to survive the harsh world. Even at a young age, Tyson proved to be a hothead living on the bad streets of New York.

Throughout his career, he was a modern, celebrated and feared gladiator. He would make his debut in 1985. His first victory would prove crucial as he defeated his opponent by knockout and his future matches would end in a KO or TKO as well. He would become the youngest heavyweight world champion in history by defeating Trevor Berbick in a title fight.

For three years, Tyson would hold the title of undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. During his undefeated reign for the title, he struck fear into the hearts of his opponents and raised millions of dollars for every victory he won. The boy, who grew up in the Hard Hit School, was shooting in the Benjamins and loved every second of it.

Tyson was also quite a controversial figure. Like all superstars, his private life was left vulnerable to the public and the media. His first marriage lasted only a year and one of his daughters died in a freak accident, causing a stir of emotions in the normally stone-cold gladiator’s heart. But, perhaps one of the most talked about controversies in his life would be his drug addiction.

To date, Tyson’s life has become a shadow of his former glory. Although he lives without money, he says he has friends who do. Picking up the pieces, this tough guy refuses to go down without a fight. Despite being rated everyone’s favorite joke and losing everything he had, the gladiator holds his head up, undefeated and fearless.

Fame is fleeting and comes like the cold wind in December, only to leave a chill in your bones once it’s gone. Many celebrities have crashed and burned, leaving the spotlight forever, and were never heard from again. Others have risen from the ashes and emerged as completely different people. Some have become a shadow of what they were before and do not recognize themselves in the mirror. There are still those who emerge as true fighters in the end.