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Mike Tyson was forced to pay his ex-wife heavily, but not before he nearly hit NBA's first-ever billionaire at a party.
Mike Tyson, the undisputed heavyweight champion of the late 1980s, nearly traded punches with NBA legend Michael Jordan — but not in the ring.
In a jaw-dropping moment of sports history, Tyson confronted Jordan, the world’s richest sportsman, at a star-studded party in December 1988.
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Tyson’s confrontation was fuelled by lingering resentment over his bitter divorce from actress and ABC sitcom star Robin Givens.
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The tension unfolded during former NFL player Richard Dent’s birthday dinner at a swanky Chicago restaurant.
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Tyson, already dominating the boxing world with an undefeated 35-0 record, was fresh off his highly publicized split from Givens, a divorce that cost him a whopping $15 million.
Across the table sat Michael Jordan, just beginning to cement his legacy with the Chicago Bulls.
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According to Rory Holloway, Tyson’s former co-manager and author of 'Taming the Beast: The Untold Story of Mike Tyson', the champ’s emotions boiled over after a few drinks.
Mike looked at Jordan dead in the eye and said, “Hey, you (addressing Jordan), you think I'm stupid? I know you were with my wife,” Holloway recounted.
Jordan, famously reserved, froze in terror as Tyson’s accusations reverberated across the table.
Mike Tyson vs Michael Jordan: A Near-Miss that could have changed history
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Holloway detailed how the evening spiraled into chaos.
With Don King desperately trying to defuse the situation and NFL coach Mike Ditka looking on, Tyson was ready to "beat Jordan’s ass."
Jordan, meanwhile, sat paralyzed, reportedly "looking like he’d seen a ghost."
Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed as Holloway and others worked to hold Tyson back.
The explosive moment ended without physical altercation, leaving Jordan unharmed but visibly shaken.
This surreal encounter remains one of the most bizarre stories in sports lore.
While the pair never revisited the incident publicly, it is a night neither of these legends is likely to forget.
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