Mike Tyson has talked openly about being overweight at two main times in his life: as a kid before boxing, and long after his prime when his weight reportedly climbed close to 350 pounds.

Quick Scoop

1. As a kid: bullied for being fat

Before he ever became “Iron Mike,” Tyson was described as a fat kid who was bullied in his Brooklyn neighborhood.

  • Forum discussions from boxing fans note that he was “fat” and picked on before Cus D’Amato brought him into structured training and turned that weight into muscle.
  • This early “fat phase” is part of his origin story: rough childhood, overweight, then transformed by intense boxing training.

2. Prime career: stocky, not “fat”

During his peak in the mid‑ to late‑1980s, Tyson fought around 215–220 pounds, which is considered an ideal range for his explosive heavyweight style, not an out‑of‑shape weight.

  • Articles analyzing his career note that this range let him keep speed and power, so while he looked thick and compact, he was not regarded as fat in a fitness sense.
  • In the mid‑1990s after prison, his team still targeted roughly 220 pounds as his fighting weight, again treated as “tremendous shape,” not overweight.

3. Late career (2001–2005): heavier, less conditioned

In the last stretch of his professional career (early 2000s), Tyson did come in noticeably heavier and less conditioned, which some fans casually call his “fat Tyson” era.

  • A boxing forum breakdown lists his weights: 222 lbs vs Golota, climbing to about 239–240 vs Brian Nielsen and around 233–234 against Lennox Lewis, Danny Williams, and Kevin McBride.
  • Posters characterize the 2001–2005 Tyson as “washed up” with poor conditioning, saying he “didn’t bother to train,” which explains the softer, bulkier look.

4. Post‑retirement: near 350 pounds and then slimming down

Long after he retired, Tyson has said he let himself go, with an addiction to processed foods pushing his weight close to 350 pounds at one point.

  • In a 2026 health‑focused video ad, he describes this phase as a low point where overeating and processed food seriously harmed his health and mental state.
  • That campaign ties his former obesity to a warning about processed foods and obesity-related health risks.

5. Recent years: leaner comeback phase

More recently, especially around and after his exhibition bout with Roy Jones Jr., fans and commentators have pointed out that Tyson has “taken care of his physique” again.

  • Forum users note that while he had fat periods as a kid and long after retirement, his modern training brought him back to a much leaner, muscular look for his age.

Mini timeline (rough guide, not exact dates)

[7] [9] [5] [1] [3] [7]
Period Approx. years How his weight was described
Childhood (pre‑boxing) 1970s–early 1980s Overweight, “fat” and bullied before structured training.
Prime champion years Mid–late 1980s Around 215–220 lbs, powerful but in top athletic condition.
Post‑prison but still active Mid–late 1990s Targeted ~220 lbs, described as in excellent shape on his return.
Late career decline 2001–2005 Weight up into the 230–240s, criticized as out of shape and poorly conditioned.
Post‑retirement obesity Years after 2005 Tyson says he reached nearly 350 lbs due to processed food addiction.
Recent comeback look 2020s Leaner, well‑trained again for exhibitions and public appearances.

SEO bits (for your “Quick Scoop” post)

  • Focus keyword “when was Mike Tyson fat”:
    He was overweight as a kid before boxing and again long after retirement, reportedly nearing 350 lbs, while his late‑career fights in the early 2000s showed a heavier, less‑fit version of him.
  • “Latest news” angle:
    A 2026 health ad has him talking directly about that 350‑lb phase and using it to push an anti‑processed‑food, pro‑health message.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.