33 years ago

Date: 1st August 1987

Venue: Las Vegas Hilton, Hilton Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Title: WBC, WBA & IBF World Heavyweight Titles

Promoted by: Don King Productions

Tv: HBO

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

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

 A crowd of 7,419 at The Las Vegas Hilton watched as 21-year-old Mike Tyson unified the WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight titles with a unanimous points decision over Tony 'TNT' Tucker from Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Tucker had brought the IBF title he had won in a vacant title match against James 'Buster' Douglas into the fight, but, eventually used survival tactics rather than those that could have made him the winner of HBO's heavyweight unification tournament.

Tucker made a decent enough start to the fight but soon realised that he was in with a dangerous puncher that was capable of separating him from his senses. After four rounds the TNT went out of Tuckers punches and he used an array of tactics to find a way through to the final bell in one piece.

Scores: Bill Graham 116-112 | Phil Newman 119-111 | Julio Roldan 118-113.

The drum was already beating for a Tyson vs Spinks match as this one ended.