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Born in 1966, Tyson’s childhood was marked by poverty and violence. With an absent father and mother who struggled to make ends meet, Tyson left New York City to live with famed boxing trainer Cus D’Amato. Under D’Amato, Tyson found some focus and became the youngest boxer to win a heavyweight title — a feat he achieved at age 20.
During the 1990s, the world would watch in awe as Tyson knocked out one opponent after another with brute force. In no time, he became the greatest boxer on the planet, drawing comparisons to the legendary Muhammed Ali. He became known by the nicknames “Iron Mike” and “The Baddest Man on the Planet.”
Despite his success, Tyson was plagued by demons. Emotional pain and a violent temper led to a series of personal and professional breakdowns. In 1992, he was convicted of rape and sentenced to six years in prison. It was during those years that Tyson encountered the Islamic faith with the help of other prisoners. His life would be transformed, although it would take time.
Behind bars, Tyson, who was born a Christian, converted to Islam (like his idol Ali had when he changed his name from Cassius Clay). Tyson adopted the Muslim name Malik Abdul Aziz. He later said that the teachings of Islam gave him a sense of peace and a structure.
In Arabic, “Malik” means “king” and “Abdul Aziz” translates to“servant of the almighty” or “dearest of the almighty.”
“I’ve learned in life you have to worship somebody else bigger than yourself. … I only knew worshiping myself because I was always told to believe in myself, and the connection with me and Allah is just what it is,” Tyson said during an interview earlier this year. “It is who I am and that’s just what it is.”