37 years ago
Mike Tyson vs Tyrell Biggs
Date: 16th October 1987
Venue: Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Title: WBC, WBA & IBF World Heavyweight Titles
Promoter: Don King Productions
Referee: Tony Orlando
Tv: HBO Sports
Mike Tyson
(
31
-
0
-
0
)
Weight: 216 lbs
Tyrell Biggs
(
15
-
0
-
0
)
Weight: 228¾ lbs
On October 16, 1987, at the Convention Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Mike Tyson defended his unified heavyweight titles against 1984 Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist Tyrell Biggs. This fight, the last heavyweight title bout scheduled for 15 rounds, showcased Tyson’s dominance and Biggs’s resilience, albeit in a one-sided affair highlighting the gulf between the two fighters.
At 21 years old and holding a perfect 31-0 record, Tyson entered the ring as the WBC, WBA, and IBF champion. Biggs, unbeaten at 15-0, was the WBA and IBF’s top-ranked contender. The matchup carried an extra layer of animosity due to Tyson’s lingering resentment from their amateur days when Biggs was chosen over him for the U.S. Olympic team.
The fight began with Biggs attempting to implement his strategy of using his jab and footwork to keep Tyson at bay. It appeared to be working for the first round, as Biggs landed some clean jabs and absorbed Tyson’s early attacks with relative composure. Tyson, however, remained patient and began to close the distance by the second round. He focused on landing hooks to the body, breaking Biggs’s rhythm and reducing his movement.
The tide shifted decisively in the third round. Tyson opened a deep cut over Biggs’s right eye with relentless pressure and pinpoint punches. As the rounds progressed, Tyson’s power and precision became overwhelming. Biggs abandoned his jab-and-move game plan, instead opting to stand and trade with the heavier puncher—a decision that proved disastrous.
By the middle rounds, Tyson was firmly in control. Biggs absorbed a series of punishing combinations to the head and body, visibly weakening as Tyson stalked him around the ring. In the seventh round, Tyson unleashed a ferocious assault culminating in a devastating left hook, sending Biggs crashing into his corner. Referee Tony Orlando began the count but stopped at nine as it became clear Biggs could not continue. The fight was officially stopped at 2:59 of the seventh round, awarding Tyson his 32nd consecutive victory and 28th knockout.
After the fight, Tyson reflected on his performance, stating, “He was doing so much talking that I wanted to make him pay with his health. I don’t want to sound egotistical, but I could have knocked him out in the third round. I wanted to do it slowly. I wanted him to remember this for a long time.” Despite his brave effort, Biggs admitted, “Tonight, he was better than me, but I don’t think he could do this five out of five times. His punches weren’t that dominating.”
The bout was a financial success, with Tyson earning a minimum of $4.1 million and Biggs taking home $1.25 million. However, the contest further solidified Tyson’s reputation as an unstoppable force in the heavyweight division. For all his Olympic pedigree and early professional promise, Biggs left the ring battered and defeated, his career trajectory irrevocably altered.
Tyson’s victory set the stage for a high-profile clash with former heavyweight champion Larry Holmes in January 1988. For Biggs, the defeat marked the beginning of a decline as he struggled to regain his footing in the sport. The fight remains a stark reminder of Tyson’s peak dominance and the unrelenting brutality he brought to the ring.
Mike Tyson vs Tyrell Biggs on YouTube
