28 years ago

Date: 7th September 1996

Venue: MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada

Title: WBA World Heavyweight Title

Promoter: Don King Productions

Referee: Richard Steele

Tv: Showtime

Mike Tyson
( 44 - 1 - 0 )
Weight: 219 lbs

Bruce Seldon
( 33 - 3 - 0 )
Weight: 229 lbs

On September 7, 1996, Mike Tyson stepped into the ring at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas to challenge Bruce Seldon for the WBA heavyweight title. Tyson, already holding the WBC belt before vacating it earlier that day, aimed to secure his second piece of the heavyweight crown in his quest to reclaim undisputed status. Seldon, making the second defence of his WBA title, entered as a massive 22-1 underdog.

The fight was postponed from its original July date due to Tyson's bronchitis. Still, the rescheduled event drew significant attention, generating one million pay-per-view buys and a live gate of over $6.3 million from the 9,511 in attendance. Despite the hype, the bout would be remembered more for its brevity and the controversy surrounding its outcome than for any sustained action inside the ring.

From the opening bell, Tyson pressed forward with his signature aggression. Seldon, weighing 229 pounds to Tyson's 219, appeared visibly hesitant, retreating to the ropes and attempting to establish a jab that lacked conviction. Barely a minute into the round, Tyson connected with a right hand that appeared to graze Seldon's temple. The champion collapsed to the canvas, seemingly more stunned than hurt. Rising at the count of six, Seldon appeared shaky but signalled his intent to continue.

Moments later, Tyson unleashed a left hook that caught Seldon as he moved backwards. Although the punch lacked the concussive power of Tyson's vintage shots, Seldon fell heavily to the canvas once more, his legs betraying him as he attempted to stand. Referee Richard Steele completed the count at 1:49 of the first round, waving off the contest as Seldon wobbled unsteadily. Tyson was declared the winner by TKO, reclaiming the WBA heavyweight title and extending his record to 45-1 with 39 knockouts.

The fight drew immediate criticism, with boos echoing through the MGM Grand as fans chanted accusations of a fix. Replays of the knockdowns fueled scepticism, as neither appeared to land with the kind of force typically associated with Tyson's devastating power. In the post-fight interview, Seldon vehemently denied any wrongdoing, stating, "The shot rattled my eyes, and I couldn't see straight. I did not train for 12 weeks to come here and take a dive. I am already a millionaire. It's not about money."

Tyson's victory set the stage for a November showdown with Evander Holyfield, but the night took a darker turn outside the ring. Following the fight, rap artist Tupac Shakur, who attended the event, was shot multiple times in a drive-by shooting while en route to a nightclub. Shakur succumbed to his injuries six days later, adding a tragic note to an already contentious evening.

The Tyson-Seldon fight is remembered less for its sporting merit and more for the surrounding events, including the swift and lacklustre nature of the bout and the tragedy that followed. For Tyson, it was a step closer to unifying the heavyweight division once more, but the fight did little to silence critics questioning his dominance post-prison. Seldon, meanwhile, would never again contend for a world title, his reign ending in one of the most controversial bouts of the 1990s.