After his destruction of Pinklon Thomas on May 30, 1987, ‘Iron Mike’ Tyson was back in the ring two months later. This time his opponent was Tony ‘TNT’ Tucker, the IBF Heavyweight Champion. I saw the fight years later on VHS tape, and it was the first time Tyson fought someone who wasn’t intimidated at all. Tucker was 6′ 5″, had a long reach, and could box. He even rocked Tyson with a left hook in the first round, setting Mike back on his heels. The bout went the 12 round distance, with Tyson winning unanimously however, making him the unified WBF, WBC and IBF Heavyweight Champion of the World.
Tyrell Biggs, the 1984 Olympic Gold Medalist, signed to face Tyson next on October 16, 1987 at Atlantic City Convention Hall. About 3 weeks before the fight, I was in Atlantic City one afternoon, and went to the hotel front desk at Trump Plaza. I asked for, and was given a pass to watch Tyson train in one of the ballrooms at the hotel. It was cool to watch Mike spar, and do some bag work, and I still have the card I was given as a pass to watch the champ work out.
The boxing magazines at the time were hyping the bout as the ‘Ali-Frazier’ of the 80’s. I almost peed myself I laughed so hard when I read that crap, knowing Tyson was going to punish Biggs, and knock him out easily. When I made the drive over my sister’s apartment that night to watch it live on HBO, I didn’t even bring a VHS tape to watch it, because I knew it would be a blowout.
What was ridiculous to me that after two rounds on his toes, Biggs’ legs were shot, forcing him to trade with Mike. Tyson took quick advantage, and opened a cut over Tyrell’s left eye with a powerful right hand. Tyson continued to press the attack in the fifth and sixth rounds, hurting Biggs almost at will. The end came in the seventh when a sharp left hook from Tyson dropped Biggs to the canvas. Even though he got up, Mike jumped all over him, putting him on the canvas, and forcing referee Tony Orlando to end the massacre.
It went just as I expected, and Biggs never challenged for the title again. Larry Holmes was ringside for the slaughter, and told Larry Merchant in his post-fight interview that he had agreed to fight Mike Tyson in January of 1988. The ex-champ said “My batteries are recharged, and I want another shot at the title.” Whether or not he could, only time would tell, but one thing was certain. Mike Tyson was the best heavyweight on the planet as he claimed, and I saw no one that could defeat him.
FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM AT kensoldtimeboxingchat
LISTEN TO MY PODCAST ON SPOTIFY AT kensoldtimeboxingchat
FOLLOW ME ON TIKTOK AT kensoldtimeboxingchat
