The youngest world heavweight boxing champion in history was Michael Gerard ‘Mike’ Tyson. On November 22. 1986, at the age of 20 years and 145 days, Tyson beat reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight champion Trevor Berbick by second-round technical knockout at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada to win his first heavyweight title. ‘Iron Mike’, as Tyson was known because of his colossal strength and devastating punching power, made short work of the 32-year-old Jamaican, knocking him down twice in the second round, before referee stopped the fight after 2 minutes and 35 seconds.
Having tried, and failed, to make the United States team for the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, under the tutelage of legendary manager Constantine ‘Cus’ D’Amato, turned professional in 1985, at the age of 18. D’Amato died the following year, by which time Tyson was 11-0-0 as a professional, having won his fights by knockout, or technical knockout, including eight in the first round. Indeed, he was not taken the distance until May 3, 1986, when beating James Mills by unanimous decision over ten rounds at the Civic Centre in Glen Falls, New York.
Tyson continued his devastating unbeaten run until February 11, 1990, by which time he had won, and retained, the World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Federation (IBF) and The Ring heavyweight titles and reigned supreme as undisputed world heavyweight champion. However, on that fateful day, he fought James ‘Buster’ Douglas at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan and, in one of the biggest upsets in boxing, was knocked down – for the first time in his career – in the tenth round and, although he attempted to struggle to his feet, was counted out by referee Octavio Meyran.