Tyson's knockout abandoned mansion to be turned into a church

He may no longer be undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, but the iron gates of Iron Mike Tyson's abandoned mansion still bear his name.

These stunning pictures show the abandoned mansion of Tyson, the gaudy gold-plated decor and luxurious Jacuzzi with mirrored ceiling offering a glimpse into the lavish private life of the former professional boxer.

And now the home which was the scene of wild parties and a life of excess is set to be converted into a church.

Tyson lived in the sprawling home in Southington, Ohio, USA throughout the late 1980s and '90s, providing a base for training at Don King's facility 20 miles away in nearby Orwell.

Now this previously unseen world has been opened to photographer Johnny Joo, 24, who has shared his https://cdn.standardmedia.co.ke/images of a life which Tyson once lived.

Inside the rambling home are five bedrooms, several living spaces, seven and a half bathrooms, a full kitchen and a mini-kitchen/washroom.

The spacious grounds include two attached garages, one external garage, full size pool and Jacuzzi, tiger cages and a basketball court.

The decor holds back nothing, with crystal chandeliers, a pool larger than most homes, tiger print carpet and everything else necessary to make it into Tyson's private party pad.

But despite all the money and work put into the property, it now lies unlived in, with only memories of the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight titles at age 20.

Snapper Johnny, 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."

Tyson's celebrity waned when the boxer was taken into custody in 1991 on allegations of rape.`

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, he was granted parole and released from prison, returning to his haven of Southington in hope of escaping the media, which ended up following him.

But thanks to his increasingly desperate financial situation he put the mansion up for sale and sold it in 1999 for $1.3m (£870k).

The property 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.

Johnny 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 church's 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."

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