Mike Tyson Is Perfect For His Family, Says Wife

Jet, June 7, 1999

Many have come to know Mike Tyson as a fearless fighter in the boxing ring who'll stop at nothing to win, including biting off the tips of someone's ears.

Others may think of him as a troubled pugilist who served time in prison for allegedly raping a former beauty contestant, but his wife, Dr. Monica Turner Tyson, says that her husband, the former heavyweight boxing champion, is a warm man.

"He's human, he has a family, he's sweet, he's real loving and kindhearted, he's giving," Dr. Tyson tells Esquire magazine about the father of their two children, Rayna, 3, and Amir (oldest daughter Gena is from one of Dr. Turner's previous relationships).

She continues, "In the ring, he's a warrior, but at home, he's a big teddy bear. He always says that he takes the punches so the kids don't have to. He loves his children so much; it's like they're his whole world now.

"He goes to fathers' night at school and helps them with their homework-he does all that stuff. He's had some trouble, but he's finally surrounded by people who love him and care about him for who he is. He's not perfect, but nobody is. He's perfect for us."

The former heavyweight boxing champion showed a part of himself that the public has never seen-his tender side-in the magazine's June issue.

Tyson is shown planting a kiss on the forehead of his adorable, sleeping, 1 1/2year-old son, Amir, on Esquire's cover.

The cover's photo was shot by Gregory Heisler.

It was taken during an hour-long photo shoot with Tyson at the Montgomery County Correction and Rehabilitation Center in Rockville, MD, where Tyson has begun to serve a one-year sentence in February after he pleaded no contest to assaulting two motorists after a minor traffic accident last year (JET, Feb. 22). However, at JET press time, Tyson was granted parole with his release scheduled for June 4.

When the hour allotted for the photography shoot and the hour allotted for Tyson to spend time with his wife and son were over, the controversial boxer was escorted back to his cell.

But, before he left, Tyson kissed his tearful wife and asked his little son, "Do you want to see Daddy's house? This is where I live at. I got a condo."