After losing his heavyweight title to Buster Douglas on February 11, 1990, Mike Tyson returned home beltless for the first time in 3 and a 1/2 years. His sister died as well, so he spent time trying to regroup, deal with her death, and forget about boxing for a while. As tough as he was supposed to have been, Tyson was human and needed time to mourn.
Don King made a deal for Tyson to fight his 1984 Olympic nemesis Henry Tillman, who had defeated Mike and kept him from making the Olympic team. Tyson was booked on June 16, 1990 at Caesar’s Palace outdoor arena on an HBO doubleheader card with George Foreman, who was appearing on HBO for the first time. George was matched with contender Adilson Rodrigues, and was hoping to get ranked if he won, now three plus years into his comeback.
Another trip to my sister’s to see the bout, with VHS tape in hand. George was still seen as kind of a joke by Larry Merchant, but his impressive 2nd round knockout of Rodrigues with a perfect left hook, could only improve his chances of bigger bouts and paydays.
Mike easily knocked out Tillman in the opening round with a glancing right hand off the top of his head. It was a pathetic performance by Tillman, and most anyone with an iota of sense knew it was coming. Merchant uttered “Surprise!” after the early stoppage, knowing it was over before it started, and meant as a confidence builder for Tyson, and not a serious fight.
Less than 6 months later, Tyson traveled back east to Atlantic City Convention Hall on December 8, 1990 to take on Alex ‘The Destroyer’ Stewart. I was working at a second part-time Christmas job at Penney’s that night, and didn’t even bother to ask my sister to tape it. Mike easily dropped Stewart three times in the first round, ending the massacre, and helping to restore his image in the public’s eyes as ‘Iron Mike’ again. It would also be the last fight on his contract with HBO, and he signed a promotional deal with Showtime in 1991.
Evander Holyfield had knocked out Buster Douglas in 3 rounds in October of 1990, and the long term plans were to match him and Tyson together. Originally supposed to meet in June of 1990, those plans were shot to hell when Buster shocked the world with his upset of Tyson. Now viewed as the two best heavyweights on the planet, Mike and Evander would have to eventually meet to answer the question as to who the better fighter really was.
FOLLOW ME ON TIKTOK AT kensoldtimeboxingchat
LISTEN TO MY PODCAST ON SPOTIFY AT kensoldtimeboxingchat
FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM AT kensoldtimeboxingchat
