It’s safe to say the knockouts Mike Tyson dished out in the late 80s and 90s were among boxing’s most brutal. Iron Mike had a notorious reputation in the heavyweight division, stemming from for his ability to put on a show, which usually involved putting people to sleep rather quickly. In fact, Tyson began his professional career 19-0, with 12 of his first 19 wins resulting in knockouts. Fans love a fighter who hits hard and none hit harder than Tyson.
Here is a list of the 13 Best Mike Tyson knockouts to help you relive the memories, from his most impressive, his first knockout, and everything in between.
1. Michael Spinks
Many will argue this isn’t the most impressive knockout of Tyson’s career, but it’s certainly the most important. Iron Mike put three belts on the line for this fight against the future Hall of Famer Michael Spinks, a fighter who had never touched the deck. The tables were set and as Donald Trump and Muhammed Ali exited the ring following introductions, the fight took a sharp right turn for Spinks. Hitting him with a big body blow that put Spinks down on the deck for the first time in his career, Spink’storture continued, before being cut short just over 90 seconds into the bout.
Date: 27 June 1988
Location: Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Pre-fight record: 34-0 (30 KO)
KO Round: 1st
2. Marvis Frazier
Frazier was one of Mikes quickest knockouts. Both fighters found pleasure in crippling their opponents and both had majority wins under their belt. The son of ‘Smokin Joe’ Frazier, Marvis Frazier had only one loss under his belt at the time, and understandably, fans tipped this as a major, but it didn’t pan out. This battle wasn’t even close, with a flurry of heavy punches, Tyson knocked out Frazier in 30 seconds flat, once again proving why he’s not all hype.
Date: 26 July 1986
Location: Civic Center, Glens Falls, New York, U.S.
Pre-fight record: 25-0
KO Round: 1st
3. Don Halpin
Tyson’s first knockout may have been his most controversial. Halpin came into the fight with a below-average record of 10 wins to 18 losses, but the veteran used his tactics to survive the first few rounds. Tyson, on the other hand, came into the fight slow and steady. The commentators even gave Tyson a bit of stick, implying “It’s almost as if his corner have said to him, ‘Listen, you don’t have to win every fight inside one round’”. The match made its way into the fourth round, where Tyson hits Halpin with a flurry of punches, sending Halpin to the canvas. Tyson finishes off Halpin with a punch while he’s already on his way down to the floor, sparking the first piece of controversy for Tyson’s career.
Date: 23 May 1985
Location: Albany, New York, U.S.
Pre-fight record: 3-0
KO Round: 4th
4. Michael Johnson
Iron Mike was just 19 years old when he got his first, first-round knockout. This fight against Johnson wasn’t the spectacle of the likes of Spinks, but it was Tyson’s quickest knockout to date. Lasting just over 30 seconds, it was a quick fight and not overly surprising. Johnson had a tendency to get knocked out, with his previous six bouts resulting in four losing knock outs. Tyson clocks Johnson with a left hook that sends him down. Mike comes back seconds later with a big right that ends the fight rather abruptly.
Date: 5 September 1985
Location: Atlantis Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
Pre-fight record: 8-0
KO Round: 1st
5. Larry Holmes
Tyson spent much of his time travelling with mentor Cus D’Amato, watching Muhammed Ali fight. It was the fight between Ali and Holmes at Caesars Palace that stuck in Tyson’s head the most. Legend has it, Mike couldn’t stand to watch his idol Ali get mauled by Holmes while he was in a deteriorating state. In a car ride home after the fight, Mike speaks to Ali over the phone and promises to seek Ali’s vengeance, “When I grow up, I’ll fight Holmes and I’ll get him back for you”.
Fast forward again through Mike’s amateur and professional career and the stage gets set for an event billed as ‘Heavyweight History’. The 38-year-old Holmes was tempted out of retirement by a $3 million offer from Don King to face the undefeated Tyson. The match was set, Ali was courtside, and Iron Mike did his thing. It took just four rounds for Tyson to prove he was too fast, too strong and too good for the former heavyweight champion. Tyson dropped Holmes twice before the fight was called off and Holmes was knocked out for the first time in his career. Mike lived up to his promise.
Date: 22 January 1988
Location: Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Pre-fight record: 33-0
KO Round: 4th
6. Henry Tillman
After suffering the first professional loss of his career, Tyson was desperate to respond in the only way he knew how. Vicious and quick. Tillman was one of Tyson’s biggest threats, a Gold medallist himself, he had beaten Mike twice at an amateur level. In reality, Mike was just too good for Tillman, owning him from the first bell. He lasted longer than some but Tillman didn’t stand a chance. Mike wanted his vengeance and you could feel it in every blow. Tyson ended the fight with a hard right after just 2:47mins.
Date: 16 June 1990
Location: Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
Pre-fight record: 38-1
KO Round: 1st
