DONOVAN RUDDOCK
Date / site: March 18, 1991 / Mirage, Las Vegas
Division: Heavyweight
Records: Tyson 39-1, Ruddock 25-1-1
At stake: Nothing
Result: Tyson TKO 7
Background: Tyson was only three fights removed from his shocking knockout loss to Buster Douglas when he met Ruddock, a big, strong Canadian who entered the fight with 10 consecutive knockouts and a number of eye-catching victories. He was a legitimate threat to Tyson. And that’s he fought. The two exchanged power punches in a give-and-take fight throughout. Ruddock went down in the second, although he appeared to trip, and he hit the canvas again from a punch the following round. The end came when Tyson landed a flurry of shots and referee Richard Steele stopped the fight with Ruddock on his feet, although many believe the loser could’ve continued. Still, Tyson proved he could handle a significant challenge and come out on top even after the Douglas disaster. He won the rematch by a unanimous decision three months later. Tyson wouldn’t fight again for more than four years.