Former heavyweight champion's house to be transformed into church

oge okonkwo

March 31, 2015 8:48 PM

Tyson who is now a Muslim convert, was forced to sell the home for $1.3m in 1999 following his fall from grace which saw the American facing huge financial difficulties after being convicted for rape

The iron gates at the entrance to the derelict mansion in Southington, Ohio, still bear the name of the former heavyweight champ

A luxurious mansion once owned by former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in Southington, Ohio, USA, is set to be transformed into a church.

Reports say Tyson who is now a Muslim convert, was forced to sell the home for $1.3m in 1999 following his fall from grace which saw the American facing huge financial difficulties after being convicted for rape.

The champion boxer lived in the Ohio residence during the late 1980s and 1990s while training for fights at Don King’s facility 20 miles away in nearby Orwell.

A photographer 24-yr-old Johnny Joo, who was let inside to explore the property which featured gold-plated furnishings, a mirrored ceiling jacuzzi and a swimming pool twice the size of the average family home.

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.

oge okonkwo