Boxing: Tyson's timeline of trouble

Mike Tyson

1979: After a troubled childhood, a boxing instructor at a New York State correction facility for boys brings Tyson to the attention of renowned trainer Gus D'Amato.

1985: Defeats Hector Mercedes in one round on professional debut.

1986: Aged 20, knocks out Trevor Berbick in the second round, winning the WBC heavyweight title to become the youngest heavyweight champion in history.

1988: Defeats James "Bonecrusher" Smith to claim WBA heavyweight title. Beats Tony Tucker to retain the WBA-WBC titles and win the IBF crown.

1988: Marries actress Robin Givens who declares in a nationally televised interview that Tyson is a manic-depressive and that she is afraid of him. Breaks bone in right hand during street brawl with boxer Mitch Green in Harlem.

1989: Tyson and Givens are divorced in the Dominican Republic on February 14.

1990: Knocked out by James "Buster" Douglas in the 10th round of their Tokyo bout to lose his world heavyweight titles in one of biggest upsets in boxing history.

1992: Convicted of rape and sentenced to 10 years in prison, four of them suspended.

1995: Released from the Indiana Youth Center and begins comeback with 89-second victory over Peter McNeeley in Las Vegas.

1996: Knocks out Britain's Frank Bruno in third round to win the WBC heavyweight title in Las Vegas. Unifies titles with first-round knockout of Bruce Seldon in WBA title bout. Stripped of WBC crown for refusing to fight Lennox Lewis. Stopped by Evander Holyfield in the 11th round for the WBA title.

1997: Marries Monica Turner. Disqualified after the third round for biting Holyfield's ear in rematch. Tyson claims he was retaliating for a head-butt that opened up a gash above his right eye. Nevada State Athletic Commission revokes Tyson's boxing licence and fines him US$3 million ($4.26 million).

1998: Files a US$100m lawsuit against promoter Don King, accusing King of cheating him out of millions of dollars. Nevada Athletic Commission votes 4-1 to restore Tyson's boxing licence.

1999: Knocks out Francois Botha in fifth round of first fight in 19 months. Sentenced to two concurrent two-year sentences for assaulting two motorists after a traffic accident a year earlier. Serves 3 1/2 months in Maryland jail. Knocks down Orlin Norris with a punch after the bell ending the first round. Norris hurts knee in fall and cannot continue. Fight is ruled a no-contest.

2000: Fined US$187,500 by the British Boxing Board of Control for misconduct.

2002: Second wife Monica sues for divorce. Tyson throws punch at Lennox Lewis bodyguard to set off mass brawl at a news conference to formally announce fight. Knocked out by Lewis in the eighth round of their heavyweight title bout in Memphis.

2003: Stops Clifford Etienne just 49 seconds into the first round in Memphis. Arrested after a brawl with two men outside a Brooklyn hotel and charged with assault and disorderly conduct. Files for Chapter 11 protection in US Bankruptcy Court, claiming he has squandered nearly US$300m through spending and bad advice.

2004: Stopped by unheralded British heavyweight Danny Williams in four rounds.

June 11, 2005: Announces retirement after quitting on stool before the seventh round of non-title bout against unheralded Irishman Kevin McBride in New York.