NO. 7 MIKE TYSON
Years active: 1985-2005
Record: 50-6
KOs: 44
KO percentage (of wins): 88
KOs inside 3 rounds: 33
Notable KO victims: Tyrell Biggs, Trevor Berbick, Frank Bruno (twice), Larry Holmes, Donovan Ruddock, Michael Spinks, Pinklon Thomas, Tony Tubbs, Carl Williams
Background: No heavyweight in history made a bigger impression with his punching power than Mike Tyson in the 1980s even though he wasn’t a big man. Of course, one reason is that his blitzkrieg through the division was available to everyone on TV. And he fought much more often than current stars when he was on the rise, as often as once a month. Thus, he captured the imagination of even casual fans around the world. To be clear: It wasn’t his solid technique or even unusual quickness that attracted attention. It was his ability to render his opponents unconscious at any moment of the fight. And it was imperative that you were in your seat at the opening bell and didn’t blink: Tyson had a remarkable 22 first-round knockouts. Teddy Atlas, who trained a teenaged Tyson, laid out for RealClearLife what made Iron Mike so powerful. Among his comments: “He had a combination of quickness, speed and power, which is not common. … As far as punching ability, he’s like a Mickey Mantle in baseball. He could hit from either side of the plate just as well. Again, not common. Guys like Ernie Shavers, great puncher, but all on the right side. Tyson, either side of the plate. … “(And in terms of his short stature) he would get underneath a taller guy’s punches, and guess what? While they were punching down they left an opening because you’re really not supposed to punch down: you leave an opening to your chin.” … Julius Francis (KO 2), wrote for The Guardian: “I was shocked by the speed and power of the punches. I was knocked down in the first round. I got up, he carried on and the rest of the fight was a bit of a blur. He was hitting me with all sorts of body and head shots; he even lifted me off the ground with some of them and I weighed (244½ pounds)!
More quotes: Tyson: “Everyone has a plan ’till they get punched in the mouth.” … Michael Spinks, who lasted 91 seconds with Tyson: “Boxing is the best job in the world to let off steam, and people are in trouble when Tyson wants to let off steam.” … Frank Bruno (TKO 5, TKO 3) told The Ring: “Tyson had it all; the hunger to win the belts, to fight, to move and determination to take anybody down that crossed him at his peak. He knew the quicker he could get rid of his opponent the less chance he would get caught and he was determined to get rid of his opponents quickly.”