The Career of Iron Mike Tyson: Part 4

August 1, 1987

Mike Tyson VS Tony Tucker (IBF, WBC, WBA Heavyweight Titles)

Result: Tyson (31-0) wins by Unanimous Decision

This was a hard fought victory for Tyson. Tony Tucker was easily his toughest challenge at the point in his careers, and possibly one of the top 5 fighters Tyson has ever faced. Tyson didn’t frustrate Tucker, or throw him off his game. And it was obvious that Tucker did his research on Tyson. At the end Tyson would pull through, but at a time when Tyson looked unbeatable, Tucker exposed some of the weaknesses in Tyson’s game.

October 16, 1987

Mike Tyson VS Tyrell Biggs (IBF, WBC, WBA Heavyweight Titles)

Result: Tyson (32-0) wins by 7^th round TKO (2:59)

Tyrell Biggs had no reason stepping into the ring with Tyson. Tyson punished Biggs the whole fight. It is hard to believe that some experts actually had Biggs favored in this matchup. Biggs was in the prime of his career, and had it been anybody else, Biggs probably walks out with the title, but Tyson was nightmare matchup for Biggs, and it showed.

January 22, 1988

Mike Tyson VS Larry Holmes (IBF, WBC, WBA Heavyweight Titles)

Result: Tyson (33-0) wins by 4^th round KO (2:55)

Heavyweight legend Larry Holmes at 38 years old came back to make up for his 2 losses to Michael Spinks. But at 38 years old, Mike Tyson was so much faster and in way better shape than Holmes, it almost seemed that the fight was over in Tyson’s camp during training. Not to mention, Tyson was 17 years younger than Holmes at this point. If I can be biased for a second, I’m glad Holmes got knocked out, maybe it knocked his foot out of his mouth and shut him up for a second.

March 21, 1988

Mike Tyson VS Tony Tubbs (IBF, WBA, WBC Heavyweight Title)

Result: Tyson (34-0) wins by 2^nd round TKO (2:54)

Tubbs was the first fighter to try and use the uppercut to work the body of Tyson. The failure to defend the uppercut would latter lose the titles for Tyson.

June 27, 1988

Mike Tyson VS Michael Spinks (IBF, WBA, WBC, The Ring, and lineal Heavyweight Titles)

Result: Tyson (35-0) wins by 1^st round KO (1:31)

The quest to unify one heavyweight champion amongst all of the boxing promotions featured possibly two of the best heavyweight at that time. Tyson and Spinks was a fight that was built up for months. Although now it is just a highlight for the knockout power of Tyson, back then it was one of the biggest heavyweight bouts of the 80’s. Lets just think that Spinks got paid 13 million for this fight, and got knocked out in the first round. I can’t imagine the promoters were to happy with that.

February 25, 1989

Mike Tyson VS Frank Bruno (Undisputed Heavyweight Titles)

Result: Tyson (36-0) wins by 5^th round TKO (2:55)

You won’t have more fun watching a Tyson fight then watching the Bruno fight. It was only 5 rounds, but packed with action and fast paced boxing. As the fight went on, Tyson was too brutal for Bruno, as in the third, fourth, and fifth rounds Bruno was hanging on Mike. The fight went five, but was over in three.

July 21, 1989

Mike Tyson VS Carl Williams (Undisputed Heavyweight Titles)

Result: Tyson (37-0) wins by 1^st round TKO (1:33)

Carl Williams had no right standing in there with Tyson, really the only reason why they put Williams against Tyson was because Holyfield and Douglas weren't ready, and nobody wanted Tyson VS Ribalta 2.

February 11, 1990

Mike Tyson VS Buster Douglas (Undisputed Heavyweight Titles)

Result: Douglas beat Tyson (37-1) by 10th Round KO (1:22) 

You can make all the excuses you for Tyson. But the truth about this fight is Buster Douglas just was relaxed, and fought a perfect fight. Tyson hadn’t taken that much damage in his career, or ever been in that much trouble in his career. Then you add the pressure of defending his titles. It just seemed like Tyson just kept walking into the offense of Douglas, Buster had an answer for everything. Also Tyson didn’t have the same speed, and kept his hand down. It’s like he made it easy for Douglas.

June 16, 1990

Mike Tyson VS Henry Tillman 

Result: Tyson (38-1) wins by 1st round KO (2:47)

Tillman beat Tyson twice in amateurs, which I think is why they had Tyson fight him. Tyson needed to get his confidence back, what better way to do that then knocking a guy out who beat you twice. 

December 8, 1990 

Mike Tyson VS Alex Stewart 

Result: Tyson (39-1) wins by 1st round TKO (2:27)

I think that Holyfield was still in the minds of the Tyson camp, so having him fight a guy like Alex Stewart was to build more confidence before taking on higher competition.