Mike Tyson's greatest ever knockouts

Mike Tyson (50-6-0, 44 KOs) will step back into the ring for a bout against boxer and YouTuber Jake Paul (10-1-0, 6 KOs) on November 15 at AT&T Stadium in Texas, United States.

Tyson was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2011, having knocked out 44 of his opponents, leaving a brutal mark with his fierce style during his reign from 1987 to 1990. During this period, he earned the nickname “Iron Mike.”

In November 2020, Tyson returned to the ring to face another legend, Roy Jones Jr., in an eight-round exhibition match that was officially declared a draw.

Tyson’s most memorable knockouts

Though it’s hard to single out the most electrifying KOs in Tyson’s career, some of the most memorable include:

KO vs Marvis Frazier | July 26, 1986 | Glens Falls

In a fight leading up to his world title bid, Tyson delivered a devastating KO that some describe as chilling, as it took only 30 seconds – the fastest KO of his career. In this fight, he demonstrated his ferocity with powerful punches, uppercuts, and lethal combinations.

KO vs Trevor Berbick | November 22, 1986 | Las Vegas

Tyson became the youngest heavyweight world champion in history at 20 years, 4 months, and 22 days old. Once again, “Iron Mike” showcased his explosiveness with a powerful left hook to the jaw. Berbick, however, needed more to be completely taken down, prompting Tyson to deliver another left hook that secured him the heavyweight title.

Berbick fell three times in a dramatic sequence: he initially went down from the hook, attempted to get up but fell again, then stood up once more, but his legs gave way, and he collapsed against the ropes.

KO vs Michael Spinks | June 27, 1988 | Atlantic City

Arguably one of Tyson’s most memorable KOs, coming at the peak of his career at just 21 years old, where he defended his undisputed title by defeating the undefeated Michael Spinks in just 91 seconds. Tyson entered the ring with three belts, facing Spinks, the lineal champion, despite Spinks having been stripped of his belt.

True to his style, Tyson dominated with aggression, knocking down Spinks twice—the second knockdown being particularly stunning with a left-right combination to the jaw. Tyson received enormous applause from the crowd in Atlantic City.

Other notable KOs by Tyson

KO vs Michael Johnson | September 5, 1985 | Atlantic City
KO vs Larry Holmes | January 22, 1988 | Atlantic City
KO vs Tony Tubbs | March 21, 1988 | Tokyo
KO vs Carl Williams | July 21, 1989 | Atlantic City
KO vs Henry Tillman | June 16, 1990 | Las Vegas
KO vs Francois Botha | January 16, 1999 | Las Vegas
KO vs Clifford Etienne | February 22, 2003 | Memphis

Jake Paul - Mike Tyson: the fight that will paralyze the United States

The fight between Paul and Tyson is scheduled for eight two-minute rounds, with preliminary boxing bouts lasting between four and twelve rounds, each three minutes long.

Tyson and Paul will wear 14-ounce gloves, not the usual 10-ounce gloves, and another key difference is that judges will determine a winner at the end of the fight. This means that one of the boxers can win on points; otherwise, without judges, a winner would only be declared if the fight ended in a KO.

Originally, the fight was scheduled for July 20, but it had to be postponed due to health issues for “Iron Mike.” Now, everything is set for the big event.

The fight will be streamed on Netflix this Friday, July 15, 2024, starting at 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT; 7 pm Mexico City time, with the main event expected to begin two and a half hours after the start time. You can also follow the action live right here on AS USA with the inimitable commentary and insight from Jeffrey May.