35 years ago
Mike Tyson vs Carl Williams
Date: 21st July 1989
Venue: Convention Center, Atlantic City, New JerseyTitle: WBC, WBA & IBF World Heavyweight Titles
Promoter: Don King Productions
Referee: Randy Neumann
Tv: HBO Sports
Mike Tyson
(
36
-
0
-
0
)
Weight: 219¼ lbs
Carl Williams
(
22
-
2
-
0
)
Weight: 218 lbs
The highly anticipated heavyweight clash between Mike Tyson and Carl Williams unfolded on July 21, 1989, at the Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Tyson entered the ring as the undefeated and undisputed heavyweight champion, holding the WBC, WBA, IBF, and The Ring titles. With a record of 36-0, the 23-year-old champion had established himself as a devastating force in boxing. His opponent, Carl "The Truth" Williams, was a seasoned contender with a record of 22-2 and a reputation for skilful boxing behind a sharp jab.
Williams, standing an inch taller than Tyson and weighing in at 218 pounds to Tyson's 219¼ pounds, planned to keep the aggressive champion at bay with his jab. However, Tyson's relentless style and explosive power quickly rendered the strategy ineffective. From the opening bell, Tyson advanced methodically, cutting off the ring and slipping Williams' punches with his characteristic head movement. Williams managed to land a stiff jab just over a minute into the fight, but it proved his only notable night's success.
At 1:33 of the first round, Tyson delivered a signature left hook that caught Williams cleanly on the jaw, sending the challenger crashing to the canvas. Although Williams managed to rise by the count of eight, referee Randy Neumann decided to halt the contest, deeming Williams unfit to continue. The stoppage drew boos from the crowd and immediate protests from Williams, who insisted he was capable of fighting on. Neumann later defended his decision, citing Williams' lack of responsiveness and the blank look in his eyes as key factors in his judgment.
The bout's brevity left many questions unanswered about Williams' ability to test Tyson throughout a more protracted fight. Some observers pointed to Williams' history of recovering from knockdowns in previous bouts, including his close contest against Larry Holmes in 1985, as evidence that the stoppage was premature. Nonetheless, Tyson's victory marked his sixth defence of the IBF title, eighth defence of the WBA title, and ninth defence of the WBC title, solidifying his dominance in the division.
Post-fight reactions varied. Tyson reiterated his readiness to face all challengers, stating, "No man is invincible, but I will take all comers to find out." Williams, visibly frustrated, maintained that he was not hurt and could have continued, questioning whether the referee acted too hastily. Trainer Carmen Graziano echoed these sentiments, suggesting that Neumann may have overlooked Williams' track record of resilience.
Despite the controversy, Tyson's performance underscored the danger he posed to any opponent, further cementing his reputation as one of the most fearsome punchers in heavyweight history.
Mike Tyson vs Carl Williams on YouTube
