Mike Tyson, the former heavyweight boxing champion and popularly known as ‘Iron Mike,’ has had a roller coaster ride of ups and downs in his life. And his wife Lakiha ‘Kiki’ Spicer has played a significant role in his personal and professional lives. Their relationship is a story of love, resilience, and mutual support amidst challenges.
Kiki and Mike first met at the boxing match!
In 2004, Lakiha Spicer first met Mike Tyson when she was still 18 years old. She attended a boxing match with her father, who is an avid boxing fan. It was through his connections that she met Tyson. Back in 2012, Spicer described her relationship with Tyson to the New York Post as “like a moth to a flame”. They eventually started dating each other five years later. Speaking about that connection Spicer reflected: “I could never really get him out of my system. I would try and then we would get back with each other.”
They got married in Las Vegas
Mike and Lakihar married on June 6, 2009, at La Bella Wedding Chapel, Las Vegas, in a private ceremony, as per The New York Times. This marked the new beginning of their life together as husband and wife amid Tyson’s ongoing struggles with addiction and legal issues. Their marriage has been resilient through ups and downs and reportedly they even renewed their vows in 2011 during what their guests presumed to be a birthday celebration.
Family life
Tyson and Spicer have built a family together, welcoming their first child, daughter Milan, on December 15, 2008. Their son, Morocco, followed on January 25, 2011. In the past Tyson’s rep told PEOPLE about their second child’s birth, “He is such a sweet and calm baby. Mike and Kiki are overwhelmed with joy to welcome their son to the Tyson family.”
Milan has inherited her father’s sporty genes except that she is into tennis and not boxing. The youngster is preparing for professional sports and has received training from Patrick Mouratoglou, who has earlier been Serena Williams’ and Coco Gauff’s coach. “Me and my wife both never in a hundred years anticipated we’d be tennis parents and travelling around the state,” Tyson had said in an interview with USA Today back in 2016.
Beating legal troubles
Before getting married to Tyson, Lakiha Spicer faced her own share of legal challenges. In the early 2000s, she was involved in a fraudulent scheme related to fake college courses alongside her family. This led to her serving six months in federal prison while pregnant with Milan. Despite this setback, her resilience shone through as she navigated her legal troubles while supporting Tyson during his difficult times.
Kiki co-wrote a play on Mike’s life
Spicer’s creativity came alive when she collaborated in writing the script for Tyson’s one-man show called ‘Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth,’ which was released in 2012. This collaboration showcased not only their personal bond but also their professional synergy. Kiki used to direct Tyson via earpiece during performances demonstrating her dedication to his success. The play was soon extended to Broadway under the direction of Academy Award-winner Spike Lee.
Embracing Tyson’s unique identity
One of the most defining elements of Mike Tyson’s image is that of his face tattoos which have been a subject of much debate for some time now. Lakiha Spicer believes it to be a positive feature, though. She termed the tattoo “sexy”. In 2013 to Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, Spicer explained that the unique art made him stand out. “I think it was an ingenious marketing move because now it doesn’t make a difference where he is in the world,” she said. “No one will ever say, ‘I think that’s Mike Tyson’ [or] ‘that guy looks like him.’ No. That’s Mike Tyson. It was smart.”
Supportive yet cautious partner
Spicer believes he does not need to fight for financial reasons and often reminds him of this sentiment. Speaking to Sport Bible, Tyson had said, “This fight is not going to change my life financially. If I did it for free, it’s not going to change my life,” he told the outlet. “My wife is constantly telling me, you do not need to do this fight. This is what I want to do, this is me. I’m seeking my glory.”
