The beloved and beleaguered Mike Tyson got his due props when he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Thousands of fans gathered in Canastota, New York to see the former heavy weight champion of the world reports yahoo.com. His tumultuous history was more than he could bare. "I've got to be goofy about this or I'll get emotional up here," said Tyson, who paid tribute to late trainer Cus D'Amato, the man who guided his early ring career and became his legal guardian after Tyson's mother died.
“All this stuff started when I met Cus, and Bobby Stewart (a social worker and boxing fan who introduced Tyson to D'Amato)," Tyson said. "I was in reform school because I was always robbing people.” At this point in his speech Tyson paused. The audience encouraged him to continue so he went on. Finally he was overcome by the emotion of the moment. "Hey guys, I can't even finish this stuff. Thank you. Thank you," Tyson said, then sat down.
Who can blame the guy. A horrible public divorce, rape charges, bankruptcy, substance abuse, jail time, and the death of his four-year-old daughter is more than his weight in gold. It’s no wonder that he’s described as “kinder and gentler” in his later years. Iron Mike finished his career with a record of 50-6 with 44 knockouts, personifying at times the best and worst of the sport.

(Photo: Rick Stewart/Getty Images)