No boxer has had their prime discussed as much as Mike Tyson. The two-time heavyweight king was at his best for a short period before prison terms, external pressures and internal fragility snuffed out his raging flame. He was so absorbing to watch during the height of his dominance that the idea of “Prime Mike Tyson” is still brought up in debates three decades after said prime concluded. The closest living embodiment to debates like “Would Superman be able to kill Goku?”, the myth of “Prime Mike” is arguably more compelling than the truth.
So when was Tyson’s best work? Despite the swaggering, towel-clad, Tupac entrances of the 1990s and the “Baddest Man on the Planet” hype of his ear-chomping notoriety, the answer lies a little earlier. Tyson’s 1986-1988 run is generally considered his very finest work. A streak that started with a knockout victory over WBC champion Trevor Berbick took in seven defences, during which Mike unified the undisputed crown. Tyson cut down icons like Larry Holmes and fellow champions like IBF holder Pinklon Thomas during this frightening reign of terror.
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His seventh defence during this period arguably epitomises “Prime Mike” better than any of his 58 fights. 35 years ago today, Tyson defended his undisputed title against unbeaten lineal heavyweight champion Michael Spinks. It would be the shortest world title fight the former ‘Kid Dynamite’ would ever have. But it is arguably his most enduring. A comprehensive look at one of history’s greatest fighters at the lofty height of his destructiveness.
Tyson had won Don King’s highly-publicised Heavyweight World Series tournament to crown an undisputed champion. Clearing out Berbick, Thomas and WBA ruler James ‘Bonecrusher’ Smith, Tyson held all the belts. But despite the undisputed moniker, he arguably hadn’t beaten the true champion.
Michael Spinks was the man who had beaten the man. After a 175-pound campaign that has seen him ranked as one of the greatest light heavyweights that ever lived, the brother of Muhammad Ali-conqueror Leon Spinks moved up to heavyweight.
Unthinkably, in his first fight at the weight he scored a unanimous decision win over IBF, The Ring and lineal heavyweight champion Larry Holmes. A tight, controversial victory earned Spinks The Ring Upset of the Year award. A rematch was set as ‘The Easton Assassin’ aimed to redress the balance. But Spinks decisioned him again, this time on a majority verdict. He would be stripped of his IBF recognition for fighting Gerry Cooney instead of mandatory challenger Tony Tucker. But still, to most fans Tyson could only be the true champion by defeating Spinks.
The fight was set for the Convention Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Dubbed “Once and for All”, the inference was clear. This fight would decide the singular and genuine heavyweight champion of the world. Two men who had accomplished amazing feats to stake their claims as champion finally colliding to determine the best in the business. It’s a formula so simple and appealing it’s amazing that Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk won’t get out of their own way and deliver it now. The $70 million gross made this the richest fight in boxing history at the time, proof of the eternal attraction of the “undisputed” tag.
The fight itself didn’t live up to the billing as an evenly-matched meeting of two champions. Instead, it was the crowning glory of the most terrifying heavyweight since Sonny Liston stalked Sixties prize rings. If you’re seeking out “Prime Mike”, look no further than Atlantic City on 27th June 1988.
Tyson starts by stalking Spinks, with the lineal champion already looking reluctant to engage. Spinks tries to use his fleet-footed speed to stem the tide. But Tyson was quick at this point, an underrated weapon in his “Prime” incarnation’s arsenal. A swift left jab and a nasty, short right make the challenger think twice. Spinks has the temerity to try a hook and gets swarmed. Tyson takes him to the ropes and lets rip. Spinks blocks most of it, though he doesn’t look comfortable.
Spinks moves away but at this point, existing in the same zip code as Tyson was going to spell trouble. Mike follows him, lasering in to land a crunching left and one of the most brutal right body shots you’ll ever see. Spinks collapses. He’s up by two, looking more disturbed than truly injured. Spinks opts to fight fire with fire. He throws a loose right hook. He wakes up several seconds later as a former lineal heavyweight champion.
Tyson countered the hook with fight-ending accuracy and bear-like brutality. With one hand Tyson ruled the world, reached the pinnacle of his ballyhooed “Prime” and ended the career of Spinks. In a way it was an ending for Mike too. He would continue to win, but his next fight, where Frank Bruno tagged him and made him look human before succumbing, was a sign of things to come.
Tyson would lose his titles to James ‘Buster’ Douglas two fights after destroying Spinks. There would be further titles for Mike, but precious few performances to match his 1980s pomp. He remained a top heavyweight until Evander Holyfield eroded his aura once and for all in the late 1990s. Lennox Lewis would blast the final bloom off the rose in 2002, with Tyson going 1-2 in his final three fights.
But “Prime Mike” lives on. Fans still summon up the supreme version of Tyson when debating his place in heavyweight history. More than any other boxer, the idea of Mike Tyson is arguably stronger than the fighter himself was. His prime was a brief supernova blast. It burned out almost as quickly as it arrived. But as he showed against Spinks, during this vaunted period he was near enough untouchable.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject To Change
