Recently, former world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson recounted monumental life events through a series of memoirs and essays. In his “Undisputed Truth” memoir, Tyson does not hold even the tiniest piece of information back as he unveils the truth about his tumultuous relationship with ex-wife Robin Givens. When it comes to these two getting together, The Daily Mail reports that Tyson claims Givens and her mother were on the hunt for a “big black celebrity.” Perhaps to them, Tyson was putty in their hands because although prior to Givens Tyson dated some of the world’s most beautiful women such as Naomi Campbell, he states he had a precarious self-esteem. He wrote:
“My social skills consisted of putting a guy in a coma. So maybe Robin was just what the doctor ordered.”
Growing up in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, New York Tyson was unparalleled to Givens, who was eloquent and educated. Givens entered Sarah Lawrence College at the age of 15 and after graduation attended Harvard Medical School for two years until she decided to pursue acting full time. Tyson notes Givens was media hungry, saying she attended their first date with her mother and publicist. Eleven months after their initial date they were married. Tyson was 22 and Givens, 24. They were hitched quickly due to Givens claiming she was pregnant. Unfortunately, their baby was never born.
Tyson reminisces on Givens appearance at that time as he notes she was supposed to be three months pregnant when they married. Their wedding date was February 7, 1988; by June of that year, she never gained any pregnancy weight. “‘Now it was June and she hadn’t gained a pound, so the next thing I knew she was in bed and claimed she had miscarried our baby.”
Months afterward, the year 1988 not only shared the events of their marriage and supposed miscarriage but it became the year of their infamous Barbara Walters interview. Although it was an interview to highlight Tyson’s boxing career, Givens pulled Walters aside and told her: “that she still didn’t have the truth.” At this point Givens shared on national television just what type of husband Tyson allegedly was. She told Walters: “He’s got a side to him that’s scary; Michael is intimidating, to say the least. I think there’s a time when he cannot control his temper. And that’s frightening to me. To my mother. To anyone around.”
Givens’ comment made Walters push the envelope by asking if Tyson ever hit her. Givens responded: “He shakes, he pushes, he swings. Just recently I have become afraid. I mean very, very much afraid.” Soon after the interview, Givens filed for divorce. Their divorce was finalized on Valentine’s Day on 1989. They never signed a prenuptial agreement and Givens received a settlement of $10 million. After their failed marriage, Givens became one of the most hated women in America. There’s no doubt that this memoir might drudge up some of those feelings yet again.
Check out the infamous clip from Tyson and Givens’ interview with Barbara Walters. Do you believe Tyson’s claim that Givens was money hungry in Undisputed Truth ?
