TIL Joan Jett and Mike Tyson are BFF

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The story goes that Joan called the then-19-year-old Tyson in 1985 with a good luck message prior to his sixth professional fight, against Larry Sims, a journeyman pro with 20 bouts under his belt. The one-sided affair was stopped in the third round when Sims was knocked out by a savage right hook, and a tradition was born: the superstitious Tyson now expected a call from Jett before every fight.

She obliged, calling Tyson as his record remained unbeaten and he carved a swift and brutal path through the heavyweight division. A friendship was born, and when In Fashion magazine were on ther hunt for cover stars the following year, they approached Joan and the relationship went public.

"The editors gave Jett the option of doing the cover with any male celebrity," said Steve Lott, CEO of the Boxing Hall of Fame in Las Vegas. "They wanted a man and a woman on the cover. She said she wouldn't do it with anybody except Mike Tyson."

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Sadly, the good times couldn't last. Legend has it that Jett continued to call Tyson as he terrified his opponents and remained unbeaten for another 30 fights, but on February 11, 1990, as the now Undisputed Champion of the World matched-up against the 42/1 underdog James "Buster" Douglas, Tyson never got the call. And he lost.

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