Back in the day before Mike Tyson was known as that guy with the face tattoo from The Hangover he was actually a world champion boxer, known for his brutal and ferocious fighting style which saw him claim the world record for youngest heavyweight champion of the world.

He also earned a shedload of money along the way, blowing much of his reported $300 million earnings on a lavish lifestyle (and legal fees). Tyson filed for bankruptcy in 2003, and when one takes a look at these pictures of his former mansion it isn’t hard to imagine why. These from Huffington Post:

The 25,000 square-foot space sits on 60 acres and includes five bedrooms, several living spaces, seven-and-a-half bathrooms, a full kitchen, a mini-kitchen/washroom, two attached garages, one external garage, full size pool and Jacuzzi, tiger cages and a basketball court, according to Caters photo agency.

The most outrageous aspect of the home is the Jacuzzi room, which includes wall to wall to floor-to-ceiling marble and a ceiling mirror.

But after more than two decades of relative abandonment, the home has fallen into disrepair, with graffiti covering much of the property.

And what is to come of the dilapidated mansion now? Huffington Post again:

Nick Dejacimo, the mansion’s current owner, said he wants to turn it into a “church campus.”

“It really is a blessing,” Dejacimo told photographer Johnny Choo. “We have a vision of completely redoing the entire place and having a church campus.”

They may need to exorcise a few of Mike’s demons before the residence is fit for a church. This is the man, after all, who said he wanted to eat Lennox Lewis’ children.

[source:huffingtonpost]