36 years ago

Date: 27th June 1988

Venue: Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey

Title: WBC, WBA & IBF World Heavyweight Titles

Promoter: Butch Lewis Productions, Dynamic Duo Inc, Don King Productions

Referee: Frank Cappuccino

Tv: HBO PPV

Mike Tyson
( 34 - 0 - 0 )
Weight: 218 1/4 lbs

Michael Spinks
( 31 - 0 - 0 )
Weight: 212 1/4 lbs

On June 27, 1988, Mike Tyson and Michael Spinks entered the ring at Atlantic City's Convention Hall in a fight billed "Once and For All." The bout sought to settle any lingering debate about the true heavyweight champion. Tyson, at 21 years old, was the undisputed WBC, WBA, and IBF heavyweight champion with a 34-0 record. Spinks was the lineal heavyweight champion, undefeated at 31-0, having claimed that status by defeating Larry Holmes. This matchup featured two undefeated titlists vying for the singular distinction of heavyweight supremacy.

The stakes were monumental, reflected in the event's $22 million purse for Tyson and $13.5 million for Spinks. A sold-out crowd of 21,785 generated a record $12.3 million gate. HBO broadcast the fight on closed-circuit and pay-per-view, attracting 600,000 pay-per-view buys. However, beyond the financial and promotional spectacle, the fight would become one of the most explosive in heavyweight history.

A delay in the start of the fight arose due to Spinks' promoter, Butch Lewis, challenging the integrity of Tyson's gloves, claiming a lump near the laces was irregular. The gloves were deemed standard after inspection by the New Jersey State Athletic Commission, and the delay ended. If the intention was to rattle Tyson, it backfired. He entered the ring visibly angry and with the same cold determination that had marked his reign of terror in the heavyweight division.

Spinks attempted to maintain composure as the opening bell rang, but the disparity in preparation and intent was evident. Tyson immediately closed the distance, landing a left hook high on Spinks' head, signalling his overwhelming power. Spinks' cautious movements and lack of effective counters revealed a fighter who had already transitioned into survival mode. Within the first minute, Tyson landed a sequence of blows, including a brutal body shot that sent Spinks to the canvas for the first knockdown of his career.

Spinks rose at the count of four, but Tyson wasted no time finishing the job. Spinks was met with a devastating right hook when attempting a soft right hand to hold Tyson at bay. The punch connected flush on Spinks' jaw, sending him crashing to the canvas, arms outstretched. Referee Frank Cappuccino counted to ten as Spinks lay motionless, his head resting against the ropes. The fight ended at 1:31 of the first round, marking one of heavyweight history's shortest and most emphatic title fights.

Tyson's victory demonstrated absolute dominance, solidifying his status as the baddest man on the planet. For Spinks, this bout marked the end of his illustrious career. He retired a month later, having suffered his only professional defeat. Tyson, in turn, reached the zenith of his career with this victory, widely regarded as one of his finest performances and a defining moment in the heavyweight division.