Boxing fans around the world are bracing themselves for an unprecedented bout on November 15, when legendary former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson steps back into the ring for a professional fight for the first time in nearly two decades.
Tyson’s opponent will be none other than YouTube sensation-turned-boxer Jake Paul, whose sole loss in the ring came against Tommy Fury last year, in a fight set to air exclusively on Netflix — a first for the popular streaming platform.
As anticipation builds for a fight like no other at the AT&T Stadium in Texas, where ‘Iron Mike’ is actually surprisingly the underdog in the Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson odds, it’s the perfect time to look back at some of the most memorable victories from Tyson’s illustrious career.
Tony Berbick – November 22, 1986
Tyson’s victory over Trevor Berbick in Las Vegas on November 22, 1986, is one of the most iconic moments in boxing history.
At just 20 years old, Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion ever by defeating Berbick in two rounds to claim the WBC heavyweight title.
Tyson’s relentless assault and devastating punches left Berbick stunned in the bright lights of Sin City, and he was unable to continue after a right hook.
This win not only marked the beginning of Tyson’s reign as the undisputed heavyweight champion but also signalled the arrival of a new era in boxing.
Michael Spinks – June 27, 1988
One of Tyson’s most dominant performances came against Michael Spinks on June 27, 1988. Spinks, an undefeated former light heavyweight champion, was seen as one of Tyson’s toughest challenges at the time.
However, the fight, billed as Once and For All, lasted just 91 seconds. Tyson came out of the corner with a ferocity that left Spinks unable to mount any significant offence.
Having already knocked his opponent down in the opening exchanges, another powerful combo just seconds later left Spinks out for the count.
The win, in what was the richest fight in history at the time, solidified Tyson’s reputation as the most formidable heavyweight in the world, while Spinks, who was only 31 at the time, never fought again.
Larry Holmes – January 22, 1988
Despite coming into this fight on the back of successive defeats to Spinks, veteran Larry Holmes — who is one of the greatest heavyweights of all time and was going into his 51st fight against Tyson — was still considered a significant test for ‘Iron Mike’.
‘The Easton Assassin’ had never been stopped in his lengthy career, with the losses to Spinks the only defeats on his record.
However, that didn’t deter Tyson who knocked Holmes down three times in the fourth round before the referee stopped the fight.
The victory was particularly poignant in Tyson’s career, as he had promised his idol Muhammed Ali years earlier that he would personally avenge his crushing defeat to Holmes.
Frank Bruno – February 25, 1989
Tyson’s first clash with Frank Bruno in February 1989 was a long time in the making, with the fight initially supposed to be held at Wembley but scrapped twice before eventually taking place at the Las Vegas Hilton on the second attempt.
Bruno came into the fight with plenty of confidence and landed some good shots early on in a bid to give him the upper hand.
However, Tyson’s relentless aggression soon got the better of Bruno, and ‘Iron Mike’ unleashed a brutal combination in the fifth round that sent the British boxer crashing to the canvas.
The pair met again at the iconic MGM Grand Garden Arena in March 1996, and the fight ended in a similar fashion, with Tyson stopping Bruno in the third round to regain the WBC heavyweight title.
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Tyson’s upcoming fight against Paul is technically dubbed a professional bout, and while he’s more than double the YouTuber’s age and has been out of the ring since 2005, this will be a walk in the park for ‘Iron Mike.’ It will be incredibly hard to oppose him if you’re looking for a bet on boxing.