Top 5 ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson Knockouts

Mike Tyson is very closely associated with knockouts. With 44 early nights from his 50 wins, including a run of 19 consecutive KOs, which the Brooklyn-born heavyweight opened his career with, we are spoilt for choice when it comes to knockout viewing provided by “Iron” Mike Tyson. Narrowing things down to just 5 is a challenge. It wasn’t easy deciding which ones made the cut. The answers are below.

5 – Trevor Berbick, November 22, 1986, Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, NV

The night Mike Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion of all time. Berbick had won the title earlier that year from Pinklon Thomas but was faced with a daunting first defense. Tyson was 27-0, with all but two of those wins coming via stoppage. Berbick looked intimidated. He didn’t last long. Tyson hurt Berbick a couple of times in the opening round, but the defending champion was able to stay on his feet. It was a short stay of execution though.

It was all over in the second session. Tyson came out swinging and floored Berbick 10 seconds into the round after a flurry of punches landed. Berbick was up, and referee Mills Lane allowed the bout to continue.

Tyson had the title in his sights, though. Berbick was trying to clinch in close, and he was hit with a right to the body followed by a left hook to the head. He went down and tried to get up. His legs betrayed him, and he stumbled to the canvas once more. Again, he tried to rise, and again his legs gave way. Lane had seen enough and declared the fight over. Mike Tyson was the new heavyweight champion of the world.

4 – Larry Holmes, January 22, 1988, Convention Center, Atlantic City, NJ

At this point, Tyson was the undisputed heavyweight champion. Larry Holmes was 38 years old and came into the fight after a layoff following two two-point defeat to Michael Spinks. Tyson didn’t allow Holmes to get his trademark jab going, attacking the older boxer from the outset. Tyson remained aggressive, and Holmes tried to tie him up and avoid the attacks. It was a defensive approach from the veteran.

Defensive boxing saw Holmes hold out until the 4th round. In this session, he was floored three times. The first time Holmes went down was via a big right hand, which deposited the former champion onto his back. Holmes got up, but Tyson was on him with a flurry of shots, which put Larry down again. Holmes bravely carried on, but it was only a matter of time.

The fight ended with seven seconds left in the round. Another huge right hand connected as Tyson had Holmes trapped on the ropes. Holmes was on his back and hurt badly. Referee Joe Cortez waved the fight off. It was an impressive title defense by Tyson. It was the only time Larry Holmes suffered a knockout defeat in his career.

3 – Michael Spinks, June 27, 1988, Convention Hall, Atlantic City, NJ

This would be Mike Tyson’s fourth defense of his undisputed heavyweight crown. After a great run at light heavyweight, including being the undisputed champion, Spinks was contesting his fifth heavyweight bout. It wouldn’t be one that lasted long. A left uppercut followed by a right to the body had Spinks down early in the opening session. It was the first time Spinks had been knocked down as a pro.

The second and final time was only seconds away. Tyson was in close and landed a short right hand. Spinks was flat on the canvas, and although he tried, he couldn’t beat the ten count. It turned out to be Michael Spinks’ final fight. It would be the 16th time Tyson, who moved to 35-0 with this win, had stopped an opponent in the opening round.

2 – Pinklon Thomas, May 30, 1987, Las Vegas Hilton Outdoor Arena, Las Vegas, NV

With Mike Tyson holding two of the three heavyweight straps, this fight served as part of HBO’s Heavyweight World Series tournament that would ultimately crown an undisputed champion. This was the semi-final. Thomas came in with a 29-1-1 record. He had never previously been stopped. He had never previously been down.

Back in those days, Mike Tyson had no respect for such details. He went to work early and almost scored a first-round KO, but Thomas was able to survive a brutal 8-punch combo. Thomas then gave a reasonable account of himself as he employed his jab to keep Tyson a safe distance away. When Tyson did close the distance, Thomas was able to tie him up in clinches. These tactics would only work for so long though.

In round six, Tyson caught Thomas with a left hook that stunned the challenger. What followed was a ferocious combination of 16 head punches that finally floored the durable Thomas. Thomas was in dreadful shape, and although he was trying to rise, it was clear that his brain still wasn’t fully functioning. He wouldn’t have beaten the count, but it became irrelevant when his trainer, Angelo Dundee, climbed into the ring to say no mas. It was another devastating demonstration of Tyson’s finishing ability.

1 – Tony Tubbs, March 21, 1988, Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan

“Iron” Mike Tyson was in Tokyo for the first time. Two years later, he would be back and on the receiving end of one of the biggest shocks in heavyweight history. On this occasion, he became the first man to stop Tony “TNT” Tubbs. He got the job done quickly. Tyson was making the third defense of his undisputed heavyweight title. The first round was close and tough to score. One ringside judge had it for Tyson; one had it for Tubbs, while the other scored it a drawn round.

Tubbs was again giving a good account of himself in the second session before it all went horribly wrong for him. A right to the body followed by a right uppercut hurt Tubbs close to the end of the round. After the referee had broken a clinch, Tyson sensed blood in the water and sent Tubbs to the mat with a monster left hook to the head. Tubbs’ trainer realized his man was in a bad way and jumped into the ring to rescue him.

It had the makings of a long fight for Tyson after Tubbs had started so positively. Tyson’s combination punches, followed by a devastating left hook, soon blasted this idea out of the water. It was prime Tyson at his knockout best.

Colin Morrison

A boxing fan since his teenage years, Morrison began writing about the sport in July 2016. He appreciates all styles of boxing and has nothing but respect for those who get in the ring for our entertainment. Morrison is from Scotland and can be found on Twitter @Morrie1981.

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