On this day in 1986, Mike Tyson won his first heavyweight title in just two rounds.
Tyson claimed that he was scared “to death” ahead of his boxing debut back in March of 1985 at the Plaza Convention Center in Albany, New York.
Fortunately for him, this fight would establish his trademark, with the 18-year-old needing just 107 seconds to put Hector Mercedes away.
Tyson produced many statement knockouts in his career, recording a total of 44 knockouts in 50 career wins from 1985 to 2005, before he returned last year to face Jake Paul.
However, it was the finish that ‘Iron Mike’ produced on November 22 of 1986 that saw his name instantly enter boxing’s history books.
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Photo by Chris Polk/FilmMagicMike Tyson is still the youngest ever heavyweight champion after beating Trevor Berbick in 1986After making his debut at 18 years old, Mike Tyson, largely thanks to his ability to end fights very quickly, racked up lots of pro wins in a short space of time.
Despite going the distance multiple times in 1986, his second year as a pro also saw Tyson produce his quickest knockout win and claim his first world title in spectacular fashion.
His 13th fight of the year saw ‘Kid Dynamite’ challenge the 32-year-old WBC heavyweight champion Trevor Berbick in Las Vegas.
Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty ImagesThe experience of Berbick proved to be no match for his opponent’s ferocious power and aggression, as Tyson claimed the belt with a TKO in the second round.
This made him boxing’s youngest heavyweight world champion at 20 years old, a record that still stands today.
He climbed above Floyd Patterson and Muhammad Ali, who fought each other on two occasions, in order to top the list.
Youngest boxing heavyweight championsDateAgeMike TysonNovember 22, 198620 years, 4 months, 23 daysFloyd PattersonNovember 30, 195621 years, 10 months, 26 daysMuhammad AliFebruary 25, 196422 years, 8 daysJoe LouisJune 22, 193723 years, 1 month, 9 daysJack DempseyJuly 4, 191924 years, 0 months, 10 daysGeorge ForemanFebruary 22, 197324 years, 0 months, 12 daysJoe FrazierMarch 4, 196824 years, 1 month, 21 daysJames J. JefferiesJune 9, 189924 years, 1 month, 25 daysMichael DokesDecember 10, 198224 years, 6 monthsWladimir KlitschkoOctober 14, 200024 years, 6 months, 19 daysThe only fighter to have made it onto the list since Tyson broke the record is Wladimir Klitschko.
The Ukrainian’s second-longest heavyweight title reign of all time at 4,382 days (combined) started when he was nearly four years older than ‘Iron Mike’, beating Chris Byrd in 2000 for the WBO belt.
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Photo by Jeffrey Asher/ Getty ImagesA new youngest active world champion was crowned earlier this yearWhile Mike Tyson may be the youngest heavyweight champion of all time, he doesn’t come close to the record for the youngest champion regardless of weight class.
That honor goes to Wilfred Benitez, who in March of 1976, defeated Antonio Cervantes via split decision to win the WBA and The Ring light welterweight titles at just 17 years old.
The accolade for being the youngest active world champion changed hands earlier this year when 22-year-old Xander Zayas won the WBO light middleweight belt from Jorge Garcia Perez.
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