Mike Tyson, only 20, was already a sensation when he stepped into the ring to challenge heavyweight titleholder Trevor Berbick on Nov. 22, 1986 at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas – 34 years ago today.
“Iron Mike,” sometimes fighting once every few weeks, delivered one brutal knockout after another on free television to build a record of 27-0 (25 KOs) and capture the imagination of even those with no interest in boxing. No one could look away.
Berbick is a footnote in heavyweight history. The native of Jamaica had outpointed Pinklon Thomas to win his belt eight months earlier but was just another in a series of mediocre heavyweight titleholders of that era.
He certainly was no threat to Tyson.
The challenger wasted no time in attacking the 32-year-old champion, throwing missiles intended to end the fight early. Berbick made it out of the first round but already had taken some big blows and seemed grossly overmatched.
In the second round, Tyson continued the assault before finally putting Berbick down with a right hand. Berbick got up but his fate couldn’t be more clear. Tyson ended the fight with a left hook that knocked his prey to canvas again. Berbick tried to get up and fell. Tried again, fell again. He managed on the third try to get to his feet but was in no condition to continue. Referee Mills Lane mercifully stopped the fight at 2:35 of Round 2.
Tyson had claimed what seemed to be his rightful place in boxing, becoming the youngest heavyweight champion ever.
“I’m the youngest heavyweight boxing champion in history,” Tyson said after the fight, “and I’m going to be the oldest.”
Well, things didn’t work out that way.
Tyson added two more belts to his collection and successfully defended his title nine times, including a 91-second demolition of Michael Spinks on his finest night in the ring.
Then it all came crashing down on an unforgettable night on Feb. 11, 1990 in Tokyo, when Buster Douglas stunned Tyson and the world by knocking out a man many thought was invincible.
Tyson’s historic run was over in an unfathomable instant. And he was only 23.
He would end up in prison on a rape conviction a few years later and, capping a notable comeback, regained a few heavyweight titles but he was never the same fascinating juggernaut who annihilated Berbick more than three decades ago.
Of course, people are still intrigued with Tyson, who is 54 now. That’s why a pay-per-view exhibition against Roy Jones Jr. scheduled for Nov. 28 in Los Angeles will undoubtedly do good business. Some seem to believe he can still fight at a high level.
Those days are long gone … but not forgotten.
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