This is my continuing list of fights I watched on HBO over the years.
21. Mike Tyson vs. Carl ‘The Truth’ Williams. July 21, 1989. Another trip to my sister’s Lisa’s apartment on a Saturday night, and another short night. I was really starting to dislike Tyson, and I rooted hard for anyone he fought against. I knew ‘The Truth’s’ suspect chin would be a problem, and I was right. He was dropped with a single left hook in the opening round, but could have continued in my opinion. Referee Randy Neumann called the action off, but Williams looked fine to me, and ready to continue. How much longer he may have lasted, no one will ever know, and the bout was in the books as another Tyson first round knockout.
22. Michael Nunn vs. Iran Barkley. August 14, 1989. I went to my other sister’s new house 35 miles away to watch this one on a Monday night. I was not an Iran Barkley fan at all after he had knocked out Thomas Hearns in June of 1988, and was rooting hard against him. Nunn fought cautiously the whole night, like a matador avoiding a rushing Barkley. The fight wasn’t exciting by any means, but Nunn won a unanimous decision, which made me happy. Michael retained his IBF middleweight title, and it wasn’t a bad way to spend what would have been a boring summer night at home.
23. Mike Tyson vs. Buster Douglas. February 11, 1990. When I went over my sister Lisa’s apartment that Saturday night, I remember telling my mom that I was bringing a VHS tape to tape it, because I told her “You never know what might happen mom. I’m gonna tape it.” I sat on her couch after watching the inspiring pre-fight story of Buster’s mom’s death having motivated him, and was hopeful as always. After about three rounds of Douglas totally dominating Tyson, I told my sister, who was on the phone in her bedroom, “Come out here, Lisa. You might want to see this!” She joined me on the couch, and we both watched in amazement as Buster continued to pound on Tyson. He survived an 8th round knockout from a Tyson uppercut, but came back in the 9th to continue his aggressive attack. A tremendous four punch combination in the tenth round knocked Tyson down and out, leaving him crawling on the canvas looking for his mouthpiece. To me, it was a glorious sight. I couldn’t stand the cocky bastard, and I was thrilled to finally see him get what he had coming to him. One of the biggest upsets in boxing history had just happened right before my eyes, and I was sure glad I had taped the whole thing.
24. Meldrick Taylor vs. Julio Cesar Chavez. March 17, 1990. I was working that Saturday night at my security job at a local shopping mall, and was supposed to get off at 11 pm. and drive to my sister Lisa’s house, who had taped it for me. Unfortunately for me, I lost a draw of straws, and had to stay and work third shift, since the overnight guard had called out. My mother did me a huge favor by going to my sister’s house, picking up the tape, and bringing it to me at the mall. My sweet mother salvaged my night, and I bought her a special birthday gift the next month for the many wonderful things she always did for me. That weekend, vendors had left displays in the mall, and I popped the tape into one of their VCR’s and sat glued to my seat. I loved Meldrick, and was thrilled to watch him box beautifully, and build up a huge lead on the cards. Later in the fight he weakened, and Chavez rallied, but when the 12th and final round began, I knew all he had to do was finish, and he was the champ. Unfortunately, Mel got dropped with seconds left in the bout, but got up and stood in his corner. To my horror, referee Richard Steele stopped the fight with only 2 seconds left! It to me was the single worst referee call in boxing history, and it ruined Taylor’s career. I still can’t watch the fight, because it makes me physically ill. I read somewhere that Muhammad Ali watched the bout years later, and said “That referee ruined that kid’s life.” That sums up my feelings perfectly about what Steele did that night in March of 1990.
25. Mike Tyson vs. Henry Tillman/ George Foreman vs. Adilson Rodrigues. June 16, 1990. I was excited to see George Foreman fight on HBO for the first time in his three year long comeback against top 10 contender Adilson Rodrigues. He opened the card at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, and I was at Lisa’s apartment again with another VHS tape in hand. George didn’t disappoint, and knocked Rodrigues out with a beautiful left hook in the second round. Tyson easily disposed of Henry Tillman in the opening round, in his first bout after getting his ass kicked by Buster Douglas four months earlier. To me, I was there to see ‘Big’ George do his thing, and he couldn’t have done it any better than he did.
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