When Mike Tyson returns to the ring on November 15 against influencer and boxer Jake Paul, one thing will be on fans’ minds: does “Iron Mike” still have that devastating knockout power in his fists? Here are five more mega knockouts from the ring legend.
Here you can find the first part of the story.
In quick succession
- Mike Tyson vs. Carl Williams (IBF, WBA and WBC World Heavyweight Championships)
- T.K.O. victory, 1st round
- Date: July 21, 1989
Another demonstration of Tyson’s unmatched punching power and speed was the fight between Mike Tyson and Carl Williams on July 21, 1989. Williams, who had qualified for this title fight with five consecutive victories – including a win over former champion Trevor Berbick – met the undefeated champion Tyson, who held the WBA, IBF and WBC titles.
The fight began intensely, with both boxers exchanging punches, but Tyson’s aggression soon dominated the action. Williams repeatedly tried to stop Iron Mike’s attacks by clinching, but about 76 seconds into the fight Tyson landed the decisive blow. After Williams missed the target with a left jab, the Bulldozer countered with a powerful left hook that sent Williams to the floor. “The Truth” got up again after the knockdown, but referee Randy Neumann stopped the fight. This decision was controversial as Williams appeared to be ready to continue. But the referee later explained that Williams’ reaction and his faltering condition had prompted him to stop the duel. Mike won in just 93 seconds.
Tyson’s record knockout
- Mike Tyson vs. Marvis Frazier
- T.K.O. victory, 1st round
- Date: July 26, 1986
Marvis Frazier had no chance in this fight – Tyson knocked him out after just 30 seconds of the first round. The duel on July 26, 1986 in Glens Falls, New York, thus became the fastest knockout of Tyson’s career. At just 1.78 meters tall, the fighter from Brooklyn was considered a rising star in the heavyweight division at the time. Marvis Frazier, son of boxing idol “Smokin Joe” Frazier, went into the fight against the unbeaten shooting star as the clear underdog despite his pedigree.
Shortly after the fight began, the knockout monster immediately put Frazier under pressure. He pushed him into the ropes with targeted jabs, and Frazier searched in vain for a way out of the defense. Trapped in the corner, he was at the mercy of Iron Mike’s next attack: two successive uppercuts, the second of which knocked Frazier unconscious. Even before he sank to the ground, Tyson landed further strikes. Marvis Frazier finally staggered dazed against the ropes, whereupon the referee stopped the duel after only 30 seconds.
Explosive hammer from Tyson
- Mike Tyson vs. Michael Johnson
- Knockout victory, 1st round
- Date: 05.09.1985
The fight between the young Mike Tyson and Michael Johnson in 1985 is considered one of Tyson’s most brutal knockouts of his professional career. Tyson, only 19 years old at the time, demonstrated the raw power and precision in this duel that would soon make him a boxing legend. The fight lasted just 39 seconds.
The decisive moment came when Mike hit a powerful left hook to Johnson’s body, which immediately sent him to the ground. The force of the blow was so enormous that the fight would probably have been over had Tyson’s subsequent right hook also hit him. But Johnson managed to get back to his feet. Unfortunately for Johnson, Tyson gave him no time to recover. Just seconds after getting up, he struck again with a brutal punch that ended the fight for good. The referee stopped the fight immediately and declared Tyson the winner. It was Tyson’s eighth win of his young career, while Johnson suffered his sixth defeat.
Old bill settled
- Mike Tyson vs. Henry Tillman
- Knockout victory, 1st round
- Date: June 16, 1990
After his shocking defeat to James “Buster” Douglas in February 1990, considered one of the biggest surprises in sports history, Mike Tyson was faced with a difficult situation. Instead of a quick rematch against Douglas, who opted for a fight against Evander Holyfield, Tyson had to fight his way back to the top. His opponent on June 16, 1990 was Henry Tillman, a former amateur who had defeated Tyson twice and denied him entry into the 1984 Olympics. Although Tillman had been successful as an amateur, he had made little impression as a professional.
“Iron Mike” immediately started the fight aggressively and put Tillman under pressure. The latter tried to evade Tyson’s attacks with skillful movement, but was hardly able to make his own mark. Tillman clinched several times to escape Tyson’s powerful punches, but the former champion did not let up. With around 25 seconds on the clock in the first round, Tyson drove his opponent into the corner. Tillman tried a jab, which Tyson immediately countered with a powerful right hook. The blow was brutal and Tillman went down. He remained there while the referee counted to ten and declared Tyson the winner by knockout after just 2:47 minutes.
Tyson takes out “Killer” in the ring
- Mike Tyson vs. Reggie Gross
- T.K.O. victory, 1st round
- Date: 13.06.1986
One of “Iron Mike’s” most spectacular early knockouts occurred in 1986 in a fight with Reggie Gross. Three years later, Gross was arrested and convicted for three contract killings. Since then, the ex-boxer has been serving a life sentence.
Although Gross lasted less than three minutes in the ring, he initially stunned the then 19-year-old phenom. From the outset, Gross attacked aggressively and even landed an impressive uppercut against Tyson. But for the fighter from Baltimore, the exchange of blows with a young Tyson proved to be a dangerous game. Iron Mike skillfully ducked under his taller opponent’s punches and countered with a powerful left hook that sent Gross to the ground. The fight ended in the first round in favor of Mike Tyson, who a few months later entered the history books as the youngest heavyweight world champion.
Text by Robin Josten