37 years ago

Date: 1st August 1987

Title: WBC, WBA & IBF World Heavyweight Titles

Promoter: Don King Productions

Referee: Mills Lane

Tv: HBO Sports

Mike Tyson
( 30 - 0 - 0 )
Weight: 221 lbs

Tony Tucker
( 34 - 0 - 0 )
Weight: 221 lbs

On August 1, 1987, at the Las Vegas Hilton, Mike Tyson and Tony Tucker faced off to unify the WBC, WBA, and IBF heavyweight titles, culminating in HBO's heavyweight unification tournament. Both fighters entered the ring undefeated, with Tyson holding a record of 30-0 and Tucker at 34-0. The fight was a clash of undefeated champions and a significant step toward crowning an undisputed heavyweight champion. Tyson, the 21-year-old phenom, was the heavy favourite, entering the fight as an 11-to-1 betting choice.

The contest began with Tucker immediately making his presence felt. In the opening round, Tucker landed a sharp right uppercut that briefly snapped Tyson's head back, one of the rare occasions when the young champion showed a visible reaction to a punch. This momentary success, however, did not deter Tyson from pressing forward, cutting off the ring, and delivering powerful combinations. Tucker used his reach advantage, footwork, and clinching to neutralize Tyson's relentless aggression. The early rounds were competitive, but Tucker's pace slowed after the fourth, and he began to adopt survival tactics to withstand Tyson's pressure.

As the fight progressed, Tyson displayed patience and adaptability. Instead of chasing knockout opportunities, he relied on his jab to set up his offence, gradually outworking Tucker. CompuBox statistics reflected Tyson's efficiency, landing 216 of 412 punches for an impressive 52% accuracy rate, compared to Tucker's 174 of 452 punches at 39%. Tucker's early aggression faded as he opted for defensive manoeuvres, including frequent clenching and attempts to deflect Tyson's advances by pushing his head down or circling away from exchanges.

By the championship rounds, Tyson was firmly in control, with Tucker showing signs of fatigue. Tucker managed to rally in the final round, landing a solid left hook that caught Tyson cleanly, but it was too little, too late. The fight ended with no knockdowns and little suspense about the outcome. The judges scored the bout unanimously for Tyson: Phil Newman had it 119-111, Julio Roldan scored it 118-113, and Bill Graham saw it 116-112. The victory cemented Tyson's status as the unified heavyweight champion, adding the IBF belt to his collection.

The fight's aftermath carried mixed reviews. Tyson, though victorious, acknowledged his frustration with Tucker's tactics. "I was just a little confused because he was holding a lot," Tyson admitted. "But I stopped being frustrated and continued jabbing most of the round." For his part, Tucker claimed a pre-fight injury hindered his performance, stating, "My right hand was broken when I fought him… I went in determined, though." He maintained that a fully healthy version of himself would have defeated Tyson, a belief he reiterated in interviews years later.

The unification of the heavyweight titles marked a significant milestone for Tyson, who became the youngest undisputed heavyweight champion in history at just 21 years old. The event, however, also highlighted Tyson's potential vulnerabilities, particularly against opponents who employed clinching and movement to disrupt his rhythm. Nevertheless, Tyson's ability to adapt and win decisively reinforced his standing as the dominant force in the division.

For Tucker, the loss was a missed opportunity to upset the sport's most prominent star, but his performance showed he was capable of competing at the highest level. Despite his claims of fighting through injury, Tucker's durability and skill were evident, even as he fell short against the era's most formidable heavyweight. Tyson, meanwhile, turned his attention to the lineal champion Michael Spinks, setting the stage for another defining chapter in his career.