Inside Mike Tyson's abandoned house - The Sky Herald

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2 April 2015

Inside Mike Tyson's abandoned house

It was once home to the self-declared 'baddest man on the planet' and the scene of many a wild party, but this derelict mansion - still dripping with gold and marble -  is now set to be transformed into a church.
The spacious home in Southington, Ohio, was owned by heavyweight champion boxer Mike Tyson who lived there during the late 1980s and 1990s until his dramatic fall from grace following a conviction for rape and financial problems.
Featuring gold-plated furnishings, a mirrored ceiling jacuzzi and a swimming pool twice the size of the average family home, Tyson, now 48, used the property as a base while training for fights at Don King's facility 20 miles away in nearby Orwell. 

Intimidating: The iron gates at the entrance to the derelict mansion in Southington, Ohio, still bear the name of the former heavyweight champ
Intimidating: The iron gates at the entrance to the derelict mansion in Southington, Ohio, still bear the name of the former heavyweight champ
Sanctuary: The boxer lived in the property in the late 80s and early 90s until his dramatic fall from grace when he was jailed for rape
Sanctuary: The boxer lived in the property in the late 80s and early 90s until his dramatic fall from grace when he was jailed for rape
The property features 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
The property features 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
Mike Tyson :  Mike Tyson in 1986
Mike Tyson at the iHeartRadio Music Awards in Los Angeles
Tyson is pictured in 1988 after knocking out British champion Frank Bruno and , left, and at the Mike Tyson at the iHeartRadio Music Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday, right

It features 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.
Tyson decked out the mansion with crystal chandeliers, a pool larger than most homes, tiger print carpet and everything else necessary to make it his private party pad.
But now the property lies eerily quiet with just the shell of what was once home to the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight titles at age 20.


Opulent: Tyson's jacuzzi hot tub features a mirrored ceiling, lashings of black marble and gold plated taps
Opulent: Tyson's jacuzzi hot tub features a mirrored ceiling, lashings of black marble and gold plated taps
No expense spared: Another view of the boxer's marble and gold jacuzzi room now falling into disrepair and daubed with graffiti 
No expense spared: Another view of the boxer's marble and gold jacuzzi room now falling into disrepair and daubed with graffiti 
Sauna room: More marble, glass and gold adorn the former heavyweight champion's steam room
Sauna room: More marble, glass and gold adorn the former heavyweight champion's steam room
Stagnant: The vast indoor swimming pool complex, the same size as many family homes, has also fallen into disrepair. It will now be filled in and become an area for sanctuary
Stagnant: The vast indoor swimming pool complex, the same size as many family homes, has also fallen into disrepair
The property features 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
The property features 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
All mod cons: The bar in the swimming pool room complete with beer taps and industrial buffet-style food warmers 
All mod cons: The bar in the swimming pool room complete with beer taps and industrial buffet-style food warmers 
Playroom: The massive entertainment room features bespoke cabinets for the huge television and sound system speakers the champion boxer had installed
Playroom: The massive entertainment room features bespoke cabinets for the huge television and sound system speakers the champion boxer had installed
Tyson, now 48, occupied the spacious home in Southington, Ohio, USA, during the late 1980s and 90s while training for fights at Don King's facility 20 miles away in nearby Orwell
Tyson, now 48, occupied the spacious home in Southington, Ohio, USA, during the late 1980s and 90s while training for fights at Don King's facility 20 miles away in nearby Orwell
Another view of the massive entertainment room where the champion boxer entertained friends and hangers-on during his glory days
Another view of the massive entertainment room where the champion boxer entertained friends and hangers-on during his glory days
Photographer Mr Joo, from Cleveland, Ohio, said: 'My journeys have taken me to some strange places but nothing quite like the abandoned home of a former professional boxer.
'It felt cold, rather empty and eerie - not so much a creepy eerie but a more interesting one.
'I knew Mike Tyson had once just hung out here and now I stood staring down everything that had been left behind.
'I loved the bathroom simply because of the view and the mirrored ceiling above the Jacuzzi tub.
'But the pool was probably my favourite just because of how incredibly large it was and thinking how vibrant it was at one point in time.
'The room was bigger than three of my houses, it was pretty incredible to look at while standing at one end. Everything was so full of life and now simply collects dust.
'As I wandered the halls and rooms I imagined the wild parties which must have taken place within these walls.
'I looked across a living room once full of life but now empty of parties, tigers and celebrities.'
Gold-plated fittings line the top of the landing at the vast home which is due to be renovated this year after being bought up in December
Gold-plated fittings line the top of the landing at the vast home which is due to be renovated this year after being bought up in December
One of several grand staircases at the Ohio mansion, once home to the champion boxer once dubbed 'the baddest man on the planet'
One of several grand staircases at the Ohio mansion, once home to the champion boxer once dubbed 'the baddest man on the planet'
PIC BY JOHNNY JOO/ CATERS NEWS - (PICTURED: The heavy wooden front door) - These KNOCKOUT images capture what remains of Iron Mike Tysons abandoned mansion. From gold plated decor to a mirrored ceiling Jacuzzi the snaps offer a unique insight into the life of the once undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. Tyson, now 48, occupied the spacious home in Southington, Ohio, USA, during the late 1980s and 90s while training for fights at Don Kings facility 20 miles away in nearby Orwell. And while the iron gates inscribed with his name may now be shut, photographer Johnny Joo, 24, was allowed inside to explore the property. It features 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. SEE CATERS COPY
Fittings: The heavy wooden front door opens up to an expanse of black marble but the once stunning home has fallen into disrepair
Tyson decked out the mansion with crystal chandeliers, a pool larger than most homes, tiger print carpet and everything else necessary to make it his private party pad
Tyson decked out the mansion with crystal chandeliers, a pool larger than most homes, tiger print carpet and everything else necessary to make it his private party pad
Another grand staircase leads down to the mansion's man hall with an open fire space at the bottom 
Another grand staircase leads down to the mansion's man hall with an open fire space at the bottom 
Impressive: The towering high ceiling in one of the mansion's seven-and-a-half bedrooms 
Impressive: The towering high ceiling in one of the mansion's seven-and-a-half bedrooms 
The boxer was taken into custody in 1991 on allegations of rape and in 1992 a jury found him guilty with the ruling committing him to a six year prison sentence with four years of parole.
In 1995 Tyson was granted parole and released from prison, returning to rural Southington in hope of escaping the media which ended up following him.
Because of his increasingly desperate financial situation he put the mansion up for sale and sold it in 1999 for $1.3m (£870k).
It has since had multiple owners - including one who was the subject of an FBI investigation when he tried to sell it - and is now set to be converted into a church.
The current owners bought the property in December 2014 and will transform it throughout the rest of 2015, allowing Johnny to explore before the work takes place.
The property has  had multiple owners - including one who was the subject of an FBI investigation when he tried to sell it - and is now set to be converted into a church
The property has had multiple owners - including one who was the subject of an FBI investigation when he tried to sell it - and is now set to be converted into a church
The mansion's descent into disrepair could be said to mirror the former heavyweight champion boxer's own fall from grace
The mansion's descent into disrepair could be said to mirror the former heavyweight champion boxer's own fall from grace
The current owners bought the property in December 2014 and will transform it throughout the rest of 2015
The current owners bought the property in December 2014 and will transform it throughout the rest of 2015
He added: 'I've seen a few restorations throughout my work but nothing so contrasting as this.
'But it's definitely one of the more well-preserved structures I have been in through years of exploring and photographing abandoned places.
'It makes a perfect candidate for the church to move into and build their sanctuary. Structurally the home is wonderful and I can't wait to see the restoration completed over time.
'The group would like for Mike to attend the first gathering inside the churches sanctuary.
'I hope to help by sharing this story far and wide, maybe bringing his attention to this matter. It could be quite an experience for him walking through his former home, seeing it brought to a completely different light.'

Inside Mike Tyson's abandoned house Reviewed by Unknown on Thursday, April 02, 2015 Rating: 5 It was once home to the self-declared 'baddest man on the planet' and the scene of many a wild party, but this derelict mansion - s...