Trevor Berbick vs. Mike Tyson, billed as “Judgment Day“, was a professional boxing match contested on November 22, 1986 for the WBC Heavyweight Championship.
In 1986, the three major boxing organizations….the World Boxing Council (WBC), the World Boxing Association (WBA) and the International Boxing Federation (IBF)….teamed with HBO to create a heavyweight championship tournament in an effort to crown the first Undisputed Heavyweight Champion since Leon Spinks in 1978. All three of the organizations’ heavyweight champions….as well as several of the sport’s top contenders….were entered into the tournament. In the first leg of the tournament, Trevor Berbick met then-WBC champion Pinklon Thomas for the WBC portion of the heavyweight title….when in a closely contested fight….Berbick was able to narrowly earn the victory by unanimous decision to capture his first major heavyweight title…..however, in his first defense of that title against the 20-year-old undefeated sensation Mike Tyson….who was 27–0 with 25 of his victories coming by way of knockout….as Tyson had gone 12–0 in the year of 1986 alone….and officially qualified for the unification series with a 2nd round KO victory over Alfonso Ratliff in September. Though the 32–year old Berbick entered the fight as the champion….he was listed as a 3–1 underdog to Tyson….who, at 20 years old, was 12 years younger than Berbick….while trying to surpass Floyd Patterson as the youngest man to win a major Heavyweight title in the history of the sport.
Tyson dominated Berbick….while easily picking up the victory by way of second-round TKO. From the opening bell, Tyson was the aggressor….who hammered Berbick with several powerful punches. Towards the end of the 1st round….Tyson hit Berbick with a four-punch combination that sent Berbick across the ring…..but managed to stay on his feet….when Tyson continued to attack…..and after hitting Berbick several more times until the bell sounded. Tyson picked up right where he left off in round 2….as he immediately hit Berbick with a combination that dropped the champion. Berbick was able to answer the referee’s count and the fight continued….but Berbick, however, was unable to mount any offense going and was rocked continuously by Tyson….who finally ended the fight at the 2:35 mark….after hitting Berbick with a right to the body followed by a left hook to the head that dropped the older man for the 2nd time….when Berbick attempted to get up twice, only to collapse both times, causing referee Mills Lane to call the fight and award Tyson the victory via TKO.
When you see Tyson in this video where he is in-studio with ABC’s Jim Lampley and Alex Wallau….it is easy to see the “beast mode” that Mike Tyson was in at age 20….when he became the youngest heavyweight champions in history.
