The image of Mike Tyson is usually one of two things: the "Baddest Man on the Planet" in a black trunks-and-towel combo or the mellowed-out, pigeon-loving philosopher we see today. But honestly, you can't talk about the man's wild life without looking at the women who were in the eye of the storm. Everyone knows the names, or at least they think they do. Mike Tyson former wife is a search term that usually brings up two very different eras of his life—the explosive, tabloid-fueling 1980s with Robin Givens and the more stable, yet ultimately fractured, years with Monica Turner.
The Robin Givens Era: 11 Months of Chaos
If you were around in 1988, you couldn't escape the Tyson-Givens saga. It was basically the prototype for modern celebrity train wrecks. Robin Givens was a rising star on the sitcom Head of the Class, a Sarah Lawrence graduate, and—by all accounts—someone who operated in a completely different social circle than a kid from the streets of Brownsville.
They married on February 7, 1988. It lasted about a year.
Most people remember the Barbara Walters interview. It’s legendary for all the wrong reasons. There they were, sitting on a sofa, and Givens described her life with Tyson as "torture, pure hell, worse than anything I could possibly imagine." While she spoke, Mike sat right next to her, looking almost sedated. This was the moment the public narrative set in stone: she was the "gold digger," and he was the victim of a "charlatan."
Tyson has since admitted he was physically abusive. In his memoir, Undisputed Truth, he doesn't hold back on the toxic nature of the relationship. There’s that famous, almost unbelievable story about him catching a young Brad Pitt at Givens' house during their divorce proceedings. Pitt allegedly pleaded, "Dude, don't hit me."
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Givens, for her part, has spent decades trying to outrun the "most hated woman in America" label. She eventually became a spokesperson for the National Domestic Violence Hotline. It’s a nuanced story that people often simplify into a caricature of a "mean girl" vs. a "angry boxer," but the reality was two young, traumatized people in a high-pressure cooker.
Monica Turner: The Doctor Who Stayed by His Side
Then there’s Monica Turner. If Givens was the fire, Turner was supposed to be the cooling rain. They met at a party hosted by Eddie Murphy in 1990.
But then life hit Mike hard.
Tyson was convicted of rape in 1992 and sent to the Indiana Youth Center. While most of his "friends" vanished, Turner stayed. She visited him every two weeks. She was a pediatric resident at Georgetown University, a serious professional who wasn't looking for a Diet Pepsi commercial. They married in a quiet Muslim ceremony in 1997, shortly after his release.
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This marriage lasted longer—from 1997 to 2003. They had two children together, Amir and Ramsey. During this time, Tyson’s career was a mess (think the Holyfield ear-biting incident), but his home life was ostensibly more grounded.
So why did it end?
Adultery. Turner filed for divorce in 2002, citing Mike’s "unforgiven" infidelity. Unlike the Givens split, this one was quieter, though no less painful. Even now, Mike speaks of Turner with a level of respect that's often missing when he talks about his earlier years. She’s a successful doctor now, and their kids have gone on to do their own things—Ramsey is a transmasculine nonbinary individual working in film, and Amir is an entrepreneur and commentator.
What People Get Wrong About These Relationships
We love a villain. In the Givens story, the public decided she was the villain. In the Turner story, people often forget she existed because she wasn't a "celebrity" in the traditional sense.
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- The Money Myth: Many think Givens walked away with $10 million. She has consistently denied receiving a dime, and court records from the era show a messy settlement that was more about property than a massive cash payout.
- The "Rescue" Narrative: People think Monica Turner was there to "save" Mike. She was a partner, not a therapist. You can't "fix" a man who isn't ready to be fixed, and Mike has been open about the fact that he was still battling demons throughout their entire marriage.
- The Current Wife: Mike is now married to Lakiha "Kiki" Spicer. They’ve been together since 2009. She’s the one who finally saw him through his sobriety and the tragic death of his daughter, Exodus. It's his longest marriage by far.
Why It Still Matters in 2026
Mike Tyson is about to step back into the ring, and the world is looking at his legacy again. When we look at a Mike Tyson former wife, we aren't just looking at gossip; we're looking at the evolution of a man. From the volatile youth with Robin to the seeking-stability phase with Monica, his marriages are a map of his mental health.
Givens is now a director and actress on shows like Batwoman and Riverdale. She’s built a life that has nothing to do with boxing. Turner is still practicing medicine. They aren't just footnotes in a fighter's biography.
If you’re looking to understand the "Iron Mike" phenomenon, stop looking at the KOs. Look at the people who had to live with him when the cameras were off. It gives you a much clearer picture of why he is the way he is today.
Actionable Insights for Following the Story:
- Check the Sources: If you see a "clickbait" headline about Robin Givens, remember she has her own memoir, Grace Will Lead Me Home, which tells her side of the 1988 saga.
- Support the Work: Follow the careers of Amir and Ramsey Tyson; they represent the "post-boxing" legacy of the Tyson-Turner era.
- Understand the Context: Tyson’s transformation isn't just about age; it’s about the hard lessons learned from two very public, very different failed marriages.