When Mike Tyson Learns His Former Teammate is Struggling on the Streets, He Does the Unthinkable

Mike Tyson, the former heavyweight boxing champion, had spent years transitioning from his career in the ring to his work in business and philanthropy. He had long ago made peace with his past, focusing on his family, fitness, and giving back to his community. But one phone call would remind him just how much his actions could affect the lives of others.

The call came one evening from an old friend, Jimmy Lawson, a man Tyson had once shared a locker room with during his brief time in a local boxing league after his professional career had ended. They hadn’t spoken in years, but Tyson remembered Jimmy as a tough, hardworking boxer who had fought with everything he had in the ring.

“Mike, I hate to bother you, but I didn’t know who else to turn to,” Jimmy’s voice cracked over the phone. “I’m in a bad spot, man. I’m struggling.”

Mike listened carefully as Jimmy explained his situation. After his career ended, Jimmy had faced several personal setbacks—addiction, financial ruin, and the loss of his home. Without any family support, he had found himself living on the streets, struggling to get by.

For Tyson, it felt like a punch to the gut. He hadn’t realized how far his former teammate had fallen. Jimmy had been one of the toughest guys in the ring, and the thought of him facing such hardships was unimaginable.

Without a second thought, Tyson told him, “I’m coming to get you. Stay where you are.”

When Tyson arrived at the location where Jimmy had been staying—an alley behind an old restaurant in downtown Las Vegas—he could hardly believe what he saw. Jimmy, thin and weathered, was sitting on the ground with a cardboard sign beside him. The once strong and proud man looked almost unrecognizable.

Mike didn’t say a word. He immediately went up to Jimmy, bent down, and helped him to his feet.

“No more of this,” Tyson said softly. “You’re coming home with me.”

The next morning, Tyson made arrangements for Jimmy to get medical care, detoxification, and counseling. He secured him a place to stay at a recovery center, one where he would be surrounded by people who cared and could help him get back on his feet. But Tyson didn’t just stop at the basics. He called in favors from old friends, from people he knew in the business and sports world, to help Jimmy find work and get back into the boxing gym.

Tyson made sure that Jimmy had everything he needed to rebuild his life—whether it was access to mental health resources, financial help, or simply a friend who believed in him.

As the weeks passed, Jimmy began to regain his health and confidence. He started attending therapy sessions and even began working part-time at a gym Tyson had set up for troubled youth. Slowly, the spark of the fighter Tyson had once known returned to Jimmy’s eyes.

One afternoon, Tyson and Jimmy sat down in Tyson’s living room, looking at old photos from their time in the ring. Jimmy turned to Tyson, gratitude and humility in his eyes.

“You didn’t have to do this, Mike,” Jimmy said. “You didn’t owe me anything.”

Tyson smiled. “I don’t do it for credit. I do it because I know what it feels like to be lost. And I’ll always help someone who’s trying to find their way.”

Jimmy, now clean and sober, started sharing his story at Tyson’s charity events, talking about his fall from grace and his incredible recovery. Tyson didn’t want credit either, but his actions spoke volumes.

It wasn’t just about saving someone else—it was about showing the world that no matter how far you’ve fallen, there is always a chance to rise again. Tyson didn’t just change Jimmy’s life; he reminded everyone around him that even the toughest men need a helping hand, and sometimes, the greatest victories are the ones we achieve for others.

And that’s what Tyson had done—he’d helped a fallen brother rise again, proving that the true measure of a champion lies not in what they accomplish alone, but in the lives they lift up along the way.