22 Years Ago Today, Mike Tyson Brutalises Tyrell Biggs!

[StingLikeABee]

22 years ago, the undefeated Mike Tyson was about to reach his absolute peak as a heavyweight destroyer; perhaps he had already reached it. Exactly 22 years ago today, on October 16th 1987, "Iron Mike" put on one of his most thrillingly brutal performances which gave fans vivid proof of his lethal talents. The unlucky, albeit brave, fighter on the receiving end was 1984 Olympic super-heavyweight gold medallist Tyrell Biggs.

With the 21-year-old Tyson defending his WBC, WBA and IBF titles for the first time since unifying the alphabelts in his previous fight, against Tony Tucker, challenger Biggs was given a shot at winning by some good judges. Due to his quite brilliant amateur career (wins over Tyson, Lennox Lewis and Francesco Damiani) and his undeniable boxing skill, some people even went as far as to suggest that Tyson and Biggs might give us a series akin to the Ali-Frazier rivalry!

As things turned out, though he had a decent opening round in which he used his height, his speed and his educated left jab to good effect, Biggs was doomed as soon as he signed the contract. Tyson disliked the unbeaten Olympian with the 15-0 pro record - so jealous was he of him due to his own failure to make the team for Los Angeles in '84 - and it showed. Tyson, as fast and as powerful, not to mention as supremely conditioned as perhaps never before, was all but on a different planet to the fragile-skinned challenger. Way too strong, way too dangerous a puncher with either hand and also possessing an excellent defence (taught to him by the late, great Cus D'Amato) the champion later admitted he could have taken Biggs out in the 3rd-round. Instead, however, "Kid Dynamite" wanted to inflict as much pain and suffering on Biggs as he could. And did he ever.

Showing heart once again as a pro, Biggs (even then having had to overcome difficulties with drugs) took his lumps without complaint. Soon badly marked up and cut around his left eye and inside his mouth, the 26-year-old from Philly was a pitiful sight. And though there was no quit in the fighter who had once won a fight having suffered a broken collarbone earlier in the bout, there was no way on earth Biggs was going to last the distance, much less actually beat Tyson. Before going out for what turned out to be the final round, Biggs' corner-men, Lou Duva and George Benton, did their best to spur their fighter on to victory - Duva even coming out with the faintly ridiculous cry of, "Come on, this guy's gone! You're a better fighter than him." But it was to no avail.

And finally, after what must have been an agonising time for Tyrell, his friends and his family, Tyson put him down with a cracking left hook to the head. Almost knocked through the ropes and in terrible shape, Biggs somehow got back up and tried to fight on, his face a mask of blood and pain. More bombs were rapidly thrown by the champion, including one final left hand to the head. As Biggs crashed for a second time, referee Tony Orlando neglected to bother with a count; the ending coming at one second short of the end of the 7th-round.

After the fight, whilst being interviewed, Tyson made his now infamous, "Biggs was crying in there," quote - with Mike claiming he could hear Biggs making "women gestures" when he hit him to the body. As great a fighter as he was, even back then Tyson could be relied upon to come out with the odd tasteless remark or three. Biggs deserved better from the invincible-looking champion.

Many people had said before the fight that Biggs' managerial team of Lou Duva, etc, had rushed Biggs into the Tyson fight because of the amount of scar tissue Tyrell had around his eyes - tissue that would surely open up in a lesser fight and cause their investment to lose for a whole lot less money than what a world title fight would bring. Maybe this is the truth, maybe not.

In any case, and even if he had waited a few months or so, Biggs was no match for the rampaging 1987 or '88 version of Tyson. But then, who was?

[Goodnight, Irene]

Another thread? What's the big deal about this fight?

[NICARAGUAN NIGHTMARE]

Another thread? What's the big deal about this fight?

thread starter is tyrell bigs

[Robinson]

A great performance by Tyson. Biggs was out matched and out classed.

As talented as Biggs was, he always fell short when he faced the champions
of his era.

[jont]

I love threads like this because i followed the Tyson express from the time he became a television fighter..and mainly because i had no other friends who were real boxing fans like me to talk bowing with..... it seemed like timedstood still after a Tyson fight becasue i had to wait several more months to see another Tyson fight....he generated that much excitement in me...so i started looking at the other fights to keep me from suffering too long between tyson bouts....that is how I became a fan of boxing and now i love the 105 pound straweights just as much as the heavies.... all thanks to Tyson's rise..