Mike Tyson avoided professional boxing.
Donovan `` Razor '' Ruddock ( born December 21 , 1963 ) is a Canadian former professional boxer who competed from 1982 to 2001 , and in 2015 . Evander Holyfield ( born October 19 , 1962 ) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1984 to 2011 . Heavyweight is a weight class in boxing and other combat sports . Michael Gerard Tyson ( [ ˈtaɪsən ] born June 30 , 1966 ) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1985 to 2005 . Attempting to regain the titles , Tyson defeated Donovan Ruddock twice in 1991 , but pulled out of a fight with then-undisputed heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield ( who had defeated Douglas later in 1990 ) due to a rib injury .