Mike Tyson becomes the youngest heavyweight champ in history
On November 22 1986 20-year-old Mike Tyson knocks out 33-year-old Trevor Berbick in just five minutes and 35 seconds to become the youngest titleholder ever.Im the youngest heavyweight boxing champion in history Tyson told his manager after the fight and Im going to be the oldest.Tysons bravado wasnt misplaced When he walked into the ring to face Berbick he had won all 27 of the matches hed fought knocking out 26 of his opponents.He threw unbelievably hard punchespineapples trainer Angelo Dundee called them.
Ref Mills Lane agreed Everything hes got has good night written all over it he said.Berbick refused to be intimidated by the younger mans furious arm and decidedunwisely it turned outto stand up to Tyson instead of boxing him.He didnt bob or weave or even throw punches.
He just stood there wanting to show the world that he could take whatever Tyson was dishing out.I was trying to prove to myself that I could take his best shot Berbick said but he punches pretty hard.Tyson had a plan too I wanted to throw every punch with bad intentions he said after the fight.I was throwingwhat can I sayhydrogen bombs.
During the first round Berbick had fought in such slow motion that he looked like he was underwater early in the second Tyson walloped him to the mat with a powerful left hook.The older man bounced up but Tyson thumped him again.Berbick froze then his legs buckled and he fell.
The ref began to count while the champ struggled to get up.He lifted himself off the mat twice and twice his legs wobbled so much that he fell again.He finally made it up but Lane stopped the fight anyway.
Berbick was up he said later but to allow somebody to get hit in that condition thats criminal.Tyson kept his title for nine more bouts until Buster Douglas beat him in 1990.After that his life unraveled.He was sent to prison for three years for rape.
Then five fights into his comeback in 1995 he bit off a part of Evander Holyfields ear and was disqualified.He retired for good in 2005.Berbick didnt fare much better He too spent time in prison for rape and was found dead (of chop wounds to his head according to the coroners report) in a church courtyard in Jamaica in 2006.
