Lakiha “Kiki” Spicer has played a pivotal role in helping Mike Tyson pass through some of the darkest chapters of his life. Known for solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest heavyweight champions, Tyson’s journey has been marred by serious controversies, including a rape conviction, accusations of abuse, and struggles with addiction. Despite these challenges, his marriage to Spicer in June 2009 marked a turning point.
At the time of their wedding, Tyson was under a three-year probation sentence due to a cocaine possession charge and a misdemeanor DUI conviction. Spicer, too, had her own legal battles, having served six months in federal prison for fraud charges, yet their relationship endured. Tyson eventually proposed to Spicer, who has had a lasting positive impact on his life.
Tyson expresses gratitude for his wife, saying he wouldn’t have survived without her
Reflecting on their relationship, Tyson has expressed gratitude, stating, “I’m very happy me and my wife got together. Because I don’t know how I would have survived out there.” As Tyson prepares for his upcoming fight against Jake Paul on November 15, which will be streamed on Netflix, Spicer remains his constant support.
The couple’s journey began years before they married. In 2012, Spicer described their connection as “like a moth to a flame,” recalling their initial meeting when she was 18 at a boxing match with her father. Although they didn’t immediately begin dating, their paths crossed again five years later. She shared, “I could never really get him out of my system… He’s the only person I was ever able to fall back in love with several times.”
Tyson and Spicer are parents to two children. Their first daughter, Milan, was born on December 15, 2008, and they welcomed their son, Morocco, on January 25, 2011. Tyson’s representative described Morocco as “such a sweet and calm baby,” expressing the couple’s joy at his arrival.
Milan has shown athletic potential, excelling in tennis and idolizing Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic. Tyson has embraced his role as a “tennis parent,” often traveling to support his daughter. He remarked in 2016, “Me and my wife both never in a hundred years anticipated we’d be tennis parents. I’m just happy to be here.” Milan continues to train with an elite coach in France, while Morocco enjoys track and golf in Florida.
Tyson and Spicer married in a private ceremony at Las Vegas’ La Bella Wedding Chapel on June 6, 2009, and renewed their vows in 2011 in a surprise ceremony. Tyson shared on social media, “My wife & I are getting ready to host friends & family tonight… It’s going to be a great night.”
Mike Tyson’s upcoming fight with Jake Paul will be streamed on Netflix, with Spicer by his side
Spicer’s legal history includes her involvement in a scam in the early 2000s. She and her family were accused of fraudulently taking money meant for college courses that never existed. After her conviction in 2004, Spicer was sentenced to six months in prison, just as she was pregnant with her first child with Tyson.
In 2012, Spicer co-wrote a one-man play about Tyson’s life, Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth, which was directed by Spike Lee. Tyson later performed the show on Broadway, with Spicer guiding him through an earpiece.
One of the more controversial decisions Tyson made was his face tattoo, a tribal design inspired by Māori culture. Spicer has supported this choice, calling it “sexy” and acknowledging it as a brilliant marketing move. She believes the tattoo ensures Tyson’s distinct identity wherever he goes, saying, “No one will ever say, ‘I think that’s Mike Tyson.’ That’s Mike Tyson. It was smart.”
Tyson and Spicer have also ventured into business together, launching an apparel line and a boxing glove brand, among other projects. As Tyson prepares for his fight with Jake Paul, Spicer has voiced her opinion that Tyson doesn’t need the match.
She shared with The Intelligencer that Tyson’s focus on the fight has been overwhelming, and once it’s over, she looks forward to refocusing on family life. “After that, we can be more of a unit,” she said.
