Mike Tyson vs Tony Tubbs

Mike Tyson retained the World Boxing Council, World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation heavyweight championships by knocking out Tony Tubbs in the second round at the Tokyo Dome on 21 March 1988. Tyson, unbeaten in 33 contests with 29 victories inside the distance, weighed 216¼ pounds. Tubbs, a former WBA champion, was listed at 238¼ pounds and entered with 24 wins and one defeat. Arthur Mercante was the referee. The end came at 2 minutes 54 seconds of the second round after Tubbs had been caught by a left hook and collapsed near the ropes.

The contest was the first boxing promotion staged at the newly opened Tokyo Dome, which had begun operating only four days earlier, and the first defence of Tyson’s championships outside the United States. It was also only the second world heavyweight title fight held in Japan, following George Foreman’s brief victory over José Roman in 1973. Tyson had become a considerable attraction in Japan, where his speed and punching power were already familiar through television. More than 50,000 spectators attended, filling the vast covered stadium for one of its first major sporting occasions.

Tubbs was not regarded as an easy man to box despite recurring criticism of his condition. He had fast hands, an educated jab and a loose, relaxed manner uncommon among heavyweights of his size. Three years earlier, he had outpointed Greg Page to win the WBA championship before losing it to Tim Witherspoon by a majority decision. For the Tyson fight, he had been offered an additional payment if he came in below 235 pounds, but missed the target. He was, nevertheless, confident that his hand speed and ability to box at close range would make the champion less effective. Tyson, two months removed from his fourth-round stoppage of Larry Holmes, was already committed to meeting Michael Spinks in June, provided he came through safely.

Tubbs gave a capable account of himself in the opening round. Rather than retreat continuously, he jabbed at Tyson, met him with quick combinations and remained composed when the champion moved inside. Tyson pressed forward from his familiar crouch, slipping his head from side to side, but Tubbs blocked or avoided many of the first attacks and answered with short punches. His hand speed was apparent, particularly when he worked the jab and followed it with a right or a hook before stepping away. The round was close enough for the judges to disagree: Larry Rozadilla gave it to Tubbs, Masakazu Uchida to Tyson, while Ken Morita scored it even.

The challenger continued confidently in the second. He struck Tyson with the jab, exchanged at short range and attempted to turn the champion after punching. Tyson did not force his work unnecessarily. He remained compact, kept pressing Tubbs towards the ropes and began concentrating on the body. The difference in punching strength became more noticeable as the round progressed. Tubbs could land two or three quick blows without visibly shifting Tyson, while the champion’s shorter punches made the challenger brace himself or surrender ground.

With approximately half a minute remaining, Tyson trapped Tubbs near the ropes and drove a right into the body before bringing a right uppercut through the centre. Tubbs was hurt and moved forward in an effort to smother the attack. Tyson struck him with a left hook to the side of the head, causing his legs to stiffen, and Tubbs immediately reached for a clinch. Mercante separated them, but Tyson resumed without delay. Tubbs held again after absorbing further punches and was once more ordered to release.

The decisive blow followed almost at once. Tyson stepped forward and delivered another left hook to the head. Tubbs staggered backwards with his knees giving way beneath him, then fell heavily near the ropes. His trainer, Odell Hadley, entered the ring as Mercante moved towards the fallen challenger, and the contest was stopped at 2 minutes 54 seconds. Tubbs made no attempt to rise before the intervention. Although the result was officially recorded as a knockout in some accounts and a technical knockout in others, there was no question that he had been rendered incapable of continuing.

The finish came suddenly because Tubbs had boxed well for most of the brief contest. His opening-round performance demonstrated the value of his speed and experience, but it also encouraged him to remain within Tyson’s shorter punching range. Against a champion who could strike with equal force from either hand, that was a dangerous position. Tyson’s body attack brought Tubbs upright, the uppercut disturbed his balance, and the left hook ended the matter before the challenger had time to recover.

Tyson’s purse was reported at $10 million, while Tubbs received approximately $500,000. The champion improved his record to 34 victories without defeat and completed his final engagement before the long-awaited meeting with Spinks. Tubbs had lasted less than six minutes, but the defeat was not caused by an absence of skill. He had been quick enough to compete and experienced enough to avoid much of Tyson’s early work. What he could not withstand was the speed with which Tyson converted one successful attack to the body into a finishing assault to the head.