A woman in upstate New York has filed a civil lawsuit against Mike Tysonaccusing the former boxing champion of raping her in a limousine in the early 1990s, according to court documents.
The woman, who asked the court to remain anonymous, filed her complaint in early January under a temporary New York state law that allows sexual assault victims to seek civil damages regardless of the statute of limitations.
Tyson spent three years in jail starting in 1992 after being found guilty of raping model Desiree Washington, who was 18 at the time.
In a brief affidavit dated December 23, 2022, the plaintiff claims that she met the boxer at a nightclub “in the early 1990s” and then followed him to his limousine, where he allegedly assaulted her before raping her.
“As a result of Tyson’s rape, I suffered and continue to suffer physical, psychological and emotional injuries,” he said.
She is seeking $5 million in damages.
As of Tuesday night, Tyson had not issued any public statement.
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Born in Brooklyn in 1966, Tyson had a turbulent childhood before becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion in the 1980s, terrifying his opponents with his ringside fury and phenomenal punching power.
But after his prison sentence, he was unable to retain his titles.
In a notorious 1996 confrontation, Tyson bit off a piece of his opponent Evander Holyfield’s ear.
Trapped by depression and addiction, he continued to make headlines, notably for a one-man show in which he described the many ups and downs of his life.
He recently launched into the cannabis industry with his own brand of marijuana products and hosts a podcast.
