Tyson inducted into Hall of Fame

Mike Tyson, once the self-styled “baddest man on the planet,” searched for words on Sunday as a ring career marked by glory and infamy ended with his induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

An overcast, rainy day couldn’t keep thousands of fans away as Tyson was enshrined, along with actor Sylvester Stallone who was honoured by the hall for his “Rocky” movies.

Mexican legend Julio Cesar Chavez, Russian-born Australian Kostya Tszyu, Mexican trainer Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Beristain and referee Joe Cortez were also inducted.

“I’ve got to be goofy about this or I’ll get emotional up here,” said Tyson, who paid tribute to late trainer Cus D’Amato, the man who guided his early ring career and became his legal guardian after Tyson’s mother died.

D’Amato died in 1985, the year before Tyson knocked out World Boxing Council champion Trevor Berbick in the second round to become, at 20, the youngest heavyweight world champion in history.

“All this stuff started when I met Cus, and Bobby Stewart (a social worker and boxing fan who introduced Tyson to D’Amato),” Tyson said. “I was in reform school because I was always robbing people.”

When Tyson paused, the crowd encouraged him. He went on, but finally was overcome by the emotion of the moment.

“Hey guys, I can’t even finish this stuff. Thank you. Thank you,” Tyson said, then sat down.

It was another emotional chapter in Tyson’s tale, a saga of punishing power, a meteoric rise and then an epic fall from grace.

Tyson finished his career with a record of 50-6 with 44 knockouts, personifying at times the best and worst of the sport.