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“Mike Tyson almost beat Michael Jordan over a row with wife”: This actress dated both Iron Mike and the Bulls legend

Amulya Shekhar
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"Mike Tyson almost beat Michael Jordan over row with wife": This actress dated both Iron Mike and the Bulls legend

Michael Jordan and Mike Tyson are both counted among the GOATs of their respective sports. They also shared a former flame in common.

Robin Givens was one of the hit TV actors on ABC during the mid-1980s. She first came on television with the now-disgraced comedian Bill Cosby, who gave her a guest spot on his show.

From there on, Givens broke through with a lead actress role in the ABC sitcom Head of the Class. This happened in 1986, when she was 22 years old and had dropped out of medical school to pursue acting.

Also Read: “America’s like Michael Jordan on his Wizards phase”: Christian Flanagan compares the decline of the USA to that of the Bulls legend

It’s a good thing indeed that she found the early success so necessary to kickstar a career. A few months after she shot to mainstream fame, Givens began dating a rising NBA star going by the name of one Michael Jordan.

Their relationship lasted for a few months before the two broke up. What would happen next would bring a sea change into Givens’ life.

How Mike Tyson and Michael Jordan would almost come to blows

Givens began a relationship with the world heavyweight champion in 1987. The two became serious partners shortly and exchanged wedding vows in 1988. This happened despite Givens undergoing some mental and physical trauma subjected by Iron Mike.

Their marriage was shortlived, as Tyson infamously became an abusive husband using physical violence on his spouse. Givens had had enough by late 1988, and the two separated in February 1989.

Tyson ran into Michael Jordan at a restaurant in Chicago, in what was a meeting of sorts between superathletes. The likes of Richard Dent, Mike Ditka and Don King were all present at the venue.

Tyson spotted Jordan sitting across him. Mike’s manager Rory Holloway tried to dissuade Tyson, but to no avail. Tyson confronted Mike with some harsh words while accusing him of stealing his wife:

“Jordan looks like he just seen a ghost. ‘I know you messed with her,’ Mike says, ‘You can tell me’. Jordan, it’s obvious he just wants to get up and run. He wants no part of this. And that’s what he did, he got out of there quickly” said Rory

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About the author

Amulya Shekhar

Amulya Shekhar

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Amulya Shekhar is a sports junkie who thrives on the thrills and frills of live sports action across basketball, football (the American variant works too), parkour, adventure sports. He believes sports connect us to our best selves, and he hopes to help people experience sports more holistically.

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