FROM 1981 TO 1989
Mike Tyson At 19
TYSON LAST HEAVYWEIGHT CHILD PRODIGY
San Francisco, CA– When Mike Tyson burst upon the national boxing scene, it was as an amateur in 1984. Losing to eventual 1984 Olympic champ Henry Tillman, even though he had hurt and knocked Henry down. Tillman would eventually win the Olympic Gold. Prior, Tyson had competed in both the 1981 and 1982 Junior Olympics and won the ’81 title at 201 lbs. Tyson had never lost in the Junior Olympics and also holds the quickest KO (8 seconds) in J.O. history. In addition, the prodigy won every bout in JO competition by KO.
D’AMATO THOUGHT MIKE “CINCH” TO BE CHAMP
Cus D’Amato,Tyson’s quasi father and trainer, Cus realized that Mike’s style was better suited for the professional boxing ranks and thus turned him professional in March 1985 with a KO 1 of Hector Mercedes. Mike would go on to stop his next 18 opponents before going the ten round distance with James “Quick” Tillis. Knocking Tillis down in the fourth, Tyson won with scores of 6-4 twice & 8-2 in Glen Falls, NY, this when New York still scored fights on the “rounds” basis.
NEXT FOR TYSON WAS “BLOOD” GREEN
In his next fight, Tyson would beat New Yorker Mitch “Blood” Green again points. A few years later, Tyson and Green would have their infamous late night street brawl outside a New York City clothing store which resulted in Tyson fracturing his hand. After recording six more KOs, the biggest name was that of Marvis Frazier, the son of deceased former heavyweight champion Joe Frazier. Marvin lasted all but 30 seconds before succumbing to the fighter known as “Iron Mike.”
Tyson Landing On Berbick
TYSON’S FIRST TITLE FIGHT DIDN’T LAST TOO LONG!
In November 1986, Tyson met Trevor Berbick, the then WBC champion at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel. Wnning the opener before knocking Berbick down twice in round two, Tyson was awesome. Giving Trevor the benefit of a doubt, referee Mills Lane allowed Berbick to get up, but he fell down twice more before the fight was called at 2:35 of the second.
TYSON FACES “BONEHUGGER” SMITH IN UNIFICATION
With the WBC title in hand, “Iron Mike was the hottest athlete, let alone fighter in the world. Mike would next meet WBA counterpart James “Bonecrusher” Smith in March 1987. Hailing from North Carolina, Smith has the unigue distinction of being the only heavyweight titleholder to have graduated from college. But “Bonecrusher” who was fighting Tyson outdoors at the Hilton in a huge arena erected becuase of Tyson’s incredible popularity, was smart enough to be scared to death.
COLLEGE GRAD SMART TO NOT TRADE
Instead of using his advantage in height and girth, Smith “hugged and clinched” Tyson throughout, thus his nickname was changed from Bonecrusher to Bonehugger. Still in his formulative stage, Tyson was very frustrated even though he won virtually every round. Two months later, Pinklon Thomas was stopped in six heats.
THE TYSON TRAIN IS STILL ON TRACK!
Tyson took on Tony Tucker (UD 12), who hurt Tyson in the last (12th) round with an uppercut. Next up was 1984 Olympic champ Tyrell Biggs, who was beaten to the extent that you could hear Biggs reacting (crying out loud) from the blows.
HOLMES OUT OF RETIREMENT FOR BUILDING!
Former heavyweight champion Larry Holmes in an interview on “Ring Talk,” told me that he came out of retirement to fight Tyson in 1988 because he needed $3.5 million to build an office building in his hometown of Easton, PA. Looking aged and Fighting in Atlantic City, Holmes was acquitting himself well in June 1988 until Tyson dropped him in the fourth with an overhand right. With Holmes uprighting himself, Mike dropped him two more times before the fight was called at the 2:55.
TYSON NEARING HIS PRIME
Fighting in Tokyo versus a Don King promoted fighter in Tony Tubbs on March 21, 1988, had TT been in shape he would have performed well. Instead of being in great shape, Tubbs was suffering from the Don King Heavyweight Syndrome, which meant he was overweight. Tubbs weighing 238 1/4 was no match for “Iron Mike” and was a footnote in title history when the late iconic referee Arthur Mercante waved the fight off at 2:54.
“ONCE & FOR ALL” MORE LIKE “ONCE & I’LL FALL”
Fighting for the third and last time in 1988, Tyson took on the Ring Magazine champion Michael Spinks in June before a worldwide television audience and a packed to the rafters of Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall. Before the fight the late Butch Lewis, Spinks’ promoter, went into Tyson’s dressing room to witness Tyson being gloved. Seeing his press tour antagonist Lewis, Tyson with his hands already wrapped punched a hole clean through a wall. For Lewis, this was a daunting experience he did not tell Spinks about.
FIGHT OVER IN BLINK OF AN EYE!
Looking worried, concerned, if not outright scared, Spinks and Tyson met in ring center. With Tyson being the aggressor and forcing Spinks back to the ropes, Mike landed one right hand and it was all over at 1:31. Eight months later in February 1989, Mike took out England’s Frank Bruno with a TKO 5.
TYSON MADE LIAR OF THE TRUTH!
In his last successful title defense, Tyson faces Carl “The Truth” Williams on July 21, 1989. It would take Mike two seconds longer (93) to make a liar out of “The Truth” than it did to make a believer out of Michael Spinks. Having been present for all of Tyson’s title fights in the United States, I thought this was the best Tyson I had ever seen.
TOMORROW PART II: MIKE TYSON
Come back Saturday morning or Monday when you return to your computer as we follow Mike Tyson’s professional and sometime public-private life. Remember where you are at RingTalk.com
Pedro Fernandez