18 Times Mike Tyson Delivered Epic Fades
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If you are under 25 and lack knowledge of boxing history, you probably just think Mike Tyson is the guy with the weird face tattoo from The Hangover. You would be wrong.
Before he was getting his soul obliterated by Amy Schumer in that Charlie Sheen roast, Mike Tyson was a man whose fists doubled as weapons of mass destruction. Ninety-second knockouts were a legit possibility. He might be equal parts philosopher and funny man now, but these 18 times Mike Tyson delivered epic fades are a crash course in boxing 101.
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Photo: MikeTysonLive.com/YouTube screen capture
Marvis Frazier – July 26, 1986
Mike Tyson literally knocked Marvis Frazier unconscious in 30 seconds. Frazier was stuck in an upright position on his knees as the referee removed his mouth guard. Are you not entertained?
Michael Spinks – June 27, 1988
If you dropped good pay per view money on what as billed a “once and for all” fight, you probably wanted a refund after Tyson dropped Spinks in 91 seconds during the first round. Yes, 91 seconds.
Mitch Green – May 20, 1986
The hilarity of this fight being billed “New York Is Busting Out” can’t be overstated. The bout in the ring was fairly tame, as Green clenched Tyson to prevent falling victim to a dead-arm left. He lasted a full 10 rounds but lost in a decision. The real fight came when Green tried to run up on Tyson at Dapper Dan’s in ’88. Green’s slick talk resulted in Tyson breaking his hand during an epic duff out. The only thing busting out was Mitch Green’s left eye.
Tony Tubbs – March 21, 1988
Maybe this is part of Canibus’ inspiration for the song “Second Round K.O.” Tony Tubbs caught the infamous Tyson fade with 30 seconds left in the second round. “Iron Mike” dropped a right cross on him, and Tubbs staggered around before kissing the canvas for good.
Larry Holmes – January 22, 1988
With all due respect, Larry Holmes had no business in this fight. Holmes maintained his strategy and managed not to get his head punched off for three solid rounds. Less than a minute into the next round, it was “hands down, man down” once Tyson landed a two-hit combo. Another one bites the dust.
Tyrell Biggs – October 16, 1987
By the second round, former Olympic boxer Biggs had that “please stop hitting me” look on his face. We all know how the old Mike used to respond to such pleas, but Biggs stunningly thugged it out until the seventh round despite having a cut above his left eye. The next thing you know, he was laying in between the ropes and Mike took home another W.
Pinklon Thomas – May 30, 1987
If you saw this fight, you’ll likely remember Thomas looking like he was about to go night, night with 30 seconds left in the first round. How he made it through five more rounds is anyone’s guess. With 1:15 remaining in the sixth round, Tyson landed one of those punches on Thomas that makes you ask, “A human head was not meant to bounce like that, right?”
Trevor Berbick – November 22, 1986
Berbick barely made it through the first round with his cognitive functions in tact. A kidney shot followed by a left hook in the waning seconds of the second round left Berbick with a swollen left eye and Tyson as the youngest Heavyweight Champion.
Alfonzo Ratliff – September 6, 1986
Ratliff took a defensive approach against Tyson, but how do you defend an oncoming train armed only with a traffic cone? You don’t. Tyson knocked Ratliff down twice during the second round. The final time found him on his hands and knees after leaning on the ropes, and the fight was called.
Jose Ribalta – August 17, 1986
Ribalta backed up his tough reputation by lasting an astonishing eight rounds. Less than a minute into the eighth round, Tyson hit him with a right-left combination and sent Ribalta into the ropes. The quizzical look on his face was worth the price of admission by itself. A valiant effort by Ribalta was deaded when Tyson iced him with a left in the tenth round, and the ref wisely stopped the fight.
Lorenzo Boyd – June 11, 1986
Lost in all of young Tyson’s power and speed was his defensive prowess. He held Boyd at bay with a series of quick jabs. Then in the second round he released the type of uppercut you only see while playing video games. He laid Boyd out on the canvas like a starfish.
William Hosea – June 28, 1986
Tyson put Hosea on skates several times during the first round. It almost looked like Hosea would last a few rounds before he inexplicably tried to beat Mike at his own game. Tyson laid him down to sleep late in the first round with a barrage of punches when Hosea dropped his guard in hopes of landing his own punches.
Reggie Gross – June 13, 1986
You have never seen a young Mike Tyson get hit this many times before. Gross used a superior reach and smart strategy of long-distance jabs to tag Tyson a good six times. Mike shook them off, dropped a left, and Gross was horizontal before the end of the first round. He should’ve stayed down, because when Gross got back up, Mike sent him into the ropes with an uppercut. No one man should have all that power.
Steve Zouski – March 10, 1986
Zouski was a brawler. But anytime the announcer says, “It’s amazing he’s still standing,” it’s not a good sign. In the third round, Tyson hit Zouski with a left hook that laid him out like he was practicing yoga on the canvas.
Jesse Ferguson – February 16, 1986
Despite an ugly cut over his left eye, Ferguson gave Tyson a run for his money for the first four rounds. Ferguson got touched with an uppercut in the fifth round, but courageously (or foolishly) came back for more after an eight-count. After his impression of a human punching bag for the duration of the fifth round, Ferguson tried to hold Tyson during the sixth round. The referee was up on the shenanigans and called the fight.
Mike Jameson – January 24, 1986
Jameson was taller and heavier than Tyson, but he had the physique of an old gym teacher who chugs beers in his van after school. Despite his flab, the tough Irishman lasted five rounds before eventually being dropped by a barrage of punches. Ultimately the ref stopped the fight after Jameson’s standing eight-count.
Dave Jaco – January 11, 1986
Tyson served as the proverbial wrecking ball to Jaco’s statuesque frame. After knocking down Jaco twice during the first round, Mike delivered the closing blows before the round was over for a TKO.
Hector Mercedes – March 6, 1985
After one minute and 47 seconds into the first round, Hector Mercedes was down on one knee like a football player during a touchback. He took more punches that one man reasonably should in less than two minutes, and he signaled to the referee that he’d had enough.
