Michael Gerard Tyson wuxuu ku dhashay Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York bishii Juun 30, 1966. Wuxuu leeyahay walaal ka weyn oo la yiraahdo Rodney (oo dhashay c. 1961) wuxuuna lahaa walaal ka weyn oo la yiraahdo Denise, oo u dhimatay wadne xanuun 24 jir bishii Febraayo 1990. Aabaha dhalay Tyson waxaa lagu taxay "Purcell Tyson" (oo ka yimid Jamaica) shahaadada dhalashadiisa, laakiin ninka Tyson u yaqaanay aabihiis wuxuu ahaa Jimmy Kirkpatrick. Kirkpatrick wuxuu ka yimid Grier Town, North Carolina (nabarka madow ee ay ku badan yihiin madowga oo ay ku darsadeen magaalada Charlotte), halkaas oo uu ka mid ahaa ciyaartoyda baseball-ka ee xaafadda.
38 iyo