MIKE TYSON’S boxing career spanned more than two decades before he ‘retired’ – with Iron Mike making history as one of the most feared fighters to ever enter the boxing ring.
Earning the monikers “Iron Mike” and “The Baddest Man on the Planet” along the way, he’s not done yet — he takes on Jake Paul on November 15 in one of the most highly-anticipated fights of the year.
Mike Tyson‘s professional boxing record stands at 50 wins, 6 losses and 2 no contests.
Of his 50 victories, an astonishing 44 came by way of knockout, showcasing his devastating punching power.
Tyson‘s career began in 1985 and officially ended in 2005, although he later participated in exhibition bouts, including against Roy Jones Jr in 2020.
He has come out of retirement to go toe-to-toe with the Problem Child — 31 years his junior.
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Tyson‘s ascent in the boxing world was meteoric.
He won his first 19 professional fights by knockout, with 12 of those victories coming in the first round, setting the stage for his historic championship run.
On November 22, 1986, a 20-year-old Tyson faced Trevor Berbick for the WBC heavyweight title.
Iron Mike demolished Berbick in just two rounds, becoming the youngest heavyweight champion in history – a record he still holds.
The victory marked the beginning of Tyson’s reign of terror in the heavyweight division.
Tyson‘s bout against former champion Larry Holmes on January 22, 1988, was a passing of the torch.
The young champion knocked out 38-year-old Holmes in the fourth round.
It was the first and only time Holmes was knocked out in his own Hall of Fame career.
On March 21, 1988, Tyson defended his titles against Tony Tubbs.
After Tubbs enjoyed some success in the first round, Mike stopped him in the second.
The fight was notable for taking place in the Tokyo Dome, Japan, marking the first time Iron Mike had fought outside the United States.
He earned a whopping $10m for the fight, with Tubbs paid just $500k.
Arguably Tyson‘s most impressive victory came on June 27, 1988, against Michael Spinks.
In a battle of undefeated champions, The Baddest Man on the Planet knocked out Spinks in just 91 seconds.
At the time, the fight was the richest in boxing history, with Tyson paid $22m and Spinks earning $13.5m.
It cemented Iron Mike’s status as the undisputed heavyweight champion.
Tyson’s first fight against Frank Bruno on February 25, 1989, saw him retain his titles with a fifth-round TKO.
The fight was originally meant to be at Wembley Stadium but had to be rescheduled after a street fight with Mitch Green left Tyson with a broken hand.
It showcased the champ’s ability to overcome adversity after British favourite Bruno had some early success before Tyson’s power prevailed.
Tyson’s aura of invincibility was shattered when he faced James “Buster” Douglas in Tokyo on February 11, 1990.
In one of the biggest upsets in boxing history, Douglas knocked out the undisputed heavyweight king in the 10th round.
The shocking upset expose chinks in Tyson’s armor.
Douglas, a 42-1 underdog, weathered Tyson’s early storm and capitalised on his lack of conditioning.
The loss marked the beginning of Tyson’s decline and remains a pivotal moment in boxing history.
Tyson’s career was interrupted in 1992 when he was convicted of rape and sentenced to six years in prison.
He had been arrested for the rape of Desiree Washington in Indiana, who was 18 at the time and had previously been crowned Miss Black Rhode Island.
He served three years before being released on parole in 1995.
After his release from prison, Tyson had warm up fights against Peter McNeeley and Buster Mathis in 1995.
Tyson then reclaimed the WBC title by defeating Frank Bruno in their rematch on March 16, 1996.
Tyson, who was paid $30m for the fight, stopped Bruno in the third round, showing flashes of his former dominance.
After another title defence against Bruce Seldon, Tyson‘s comeback hit a roadblock when he faced Evander Holyfield on November 9, 1996.
Holyfield, considered past his prime after three defeats in his previous seven, shocked the boxing world by stopping Mike in the 11th round.
The defeat set the stage for one of the most infamous moments in boxing history.
On June 28, 1997, the rematch ended in controversy when Tyson was disqualified for biting Holyfield’s ear.
The incident not only severely damaged Iron Mike’s reputation, but also resulted in his boxing licence being revoked for over a year.
On October 20, 2000, The Baddest Man on the Planet‘s bout against Andrew Golota initially resulted in a TKO victory for Tyson.
However, the result was later changed to a no contest when Tyson tested positive for marijuana.
On June 8, 2002, Tyson faced Lennox Lewis in a highly anticipated heavyweight showdown.
Reigning champion Lewis totally dominated the fight, knocking out Tyson in the eighth round.
He used his size and reach advantage to control the former undisputed champ, exposing the limitations of the ageing fighter.
The loss effectively ended Tyson‘s status as an elite heavyweight.
Tyson’s decline continued with a shocking fourth-round knockout loss to Brit contender Danny Williams on July 30, 2004.
This upset loss came as Tyson, by then aged 38, was clearly past his prime.
A knee injury during the fight contributed to Tyson’s defeat, but it was evident that his skills had significantly diminished.
This defeat raised further questions about his future in the sport.
Tyson’s final professional fight came on June 11, 2005, against Kevin McBride.
In his final professional bout, he quit on his stool after six rounds against the unheralded McBride.
After the fight, Tyson admitted that he no longer had “the fighting guts or the heart anymore.”
On November 28, 2020, at the age of 54, Tyson returned to the ring for an exhibition bout against Roy Jones Jr.
The fight was ruled a draw, but Mike’s performance garnered praise and reignited interest in his boxing career.
Jones Jr did the perfect job of stifling Tyson throughout the entire fight by clinching at any opportunity he could.
Mike Tyson fought 58 professional fights, resulting in 50 wins (44 by knockout), 6 losses, and 2 no contests. Here's his record in chronological order:
KO = knockout, TKO = technical knockout, UD = unanimous decision, DQ = disqualified, RTD = retired
