38 years ago

Date: 7th March 1987

Title: WBC & WBA World Heavyweight Titles

Promoter: Don King Productions

Referee: Mills Lane

Tv: HBO Sports

Mike Tyson
( 28 - 0 - 0 )
Weight: 219 lbs

James Smith
( 19 - 5 - 0 )
Weight: 233 lbs

On March 7, 1987, the Las Vegas Hilton’s outdoor arena hosted a heavyweight unification bout between WBC champion Mike Tyson and WBA titleholder James “Bonecrusher” Smith. The fight, part of HBO’s heavyweight unification tournament, had all the makings of a significant event. Tyson entered the ring as the undefeated 20-year-old phenom with a record of 28-0, while the 33-year-old Smith, at 19-5, hoped to capitalize on his power and size advantages, including an 11-inch reach edge. Tyson weighed 219 pounds to Smith’s 233, and both fighters carried the expectations of their respective titles into the ring.

The fight itself, however, failed to live up to the hype. Tyson, typically known for his explosiveness and devastating combinations, found himself repeatedly tied up by Smith, whose excessive holding disrupted any chance of sustained action. Referee Mills Lane, tasked with maintaining order, docked Smith a point in the second round for clinching and again in the eighth for the same infraction. The lack of engagement led to frequent boos from the crowd of 13,851, who had come expecting fireworks.

Tyson showed flashes of brilliance in the early rounds, particularly in the second, where a headbutt opened a cut above Smith’s left eye, and in the fourth, where a clean right hand to the head stood out amidst the lacklustre exchanges. Yet Smith’s defensive tactics stifled Tyson’s offence, and despite occasional bursts, the fight never gained momentum. Smith’s holding extended beyond the final bell of several rounds, leading to visible frustration from Tyson and post-bell taunts exchanged between the two fighters.

By the later rounds, the pattern was set. Tyson continued searching for openings while Smith remained in retreat, offering little offensively. CompuBox stats underscored the disparity: Tyson landed 191 punches of 317 thrown, while Smith connected on just 51 of 233. The final round brought a brief moment of excitement when Smith landed a solid right hand that buckled Tyson’s legs, but it was too little, too late. Tyson later admitted the punch momentarily took his legs away but emphasized that it didn’t hurt him.

After 12 rounds, the judges unanimously decided in Tyson’s favor. Lou Tabat scored the fight 120-106, while Jose Juan Guerra and Dalby Shirley both had it 119-107. Tyson became the youngest heavyweight to hold both the WBC and WBA titles, further solidifying his place at the top of the division. After the fight, Tyson voiced his dissatisfaction with Smith’s tactics in the ring, stating, “He didn’t want to fight. He didn’t want to win. This hurts boxing. This is show business; people expect a performance.”

Smith, for his part, defended his strategy, saying, “I wanted to break his concentration. I did the best I could. He can punch. He has a devastating left hook but couldn’t knock out the Bonecrusher.” Despite his claims, the audience and pundits were underwhelmed by the lack of action.
Though critical in advancing the unification tournament, the bout is remembered more for its lack of excitement than its significance. Tyson’s victory would lead him to face Tony Tucker later in the year for the vacant IBF title, completing his ascent as the undisputed heavyweight champion.

For Smith, the fight marked the end of his brief title reign and highlighted the difficulties of facing a young and ferocious Tyson, whose dominance in the division would continue for years.