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Five times Mike Tyson caused chaos in boxing

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Mike Tyson speaks during a ringside interview at a boxing event in 2026.

Mike Tyson wasn’t the only shocker in boxing. He repeatedly caused chaos in sports.

From horrific knockouts to complete public collapse, Tyson’s career has become the wildest that heavyweight boxing has ever seen.

World Boxing News documents five moments that left the sport in disbelief.

1. Tyson wins the Junior Olympics in eight seconds

Long before he won world titles and became world notable, Tyson was already terrifying adult men in Fresh York gyms as a teenager.

When he was just 15 years elderly, Tyson demolished Joe Cortez in eight seconds at the Junior Olympics, a terrifying display of speed and violence that quickly spread throughout amateur boxing circles.

The news spread quickly as the coaches immediately realized that something terrifying was rising within their ranks.

2. Tyson becomes the youngest heavyweight champion in history

On November 22, 1986, Tyson defeated Trevor Berbick in two rounds to become the youngest heavyweight champion in history at the age of just 20.

The finish became one of boxing’s most unforgettable images.

Berbick desperately tried to get up after Tyson’s latest attack, but stumbled in the ring before falling again as the referee stopped the fight.

The heavyweight division suddenly became the property of a destroyer who seemed unbeatable, and Tyson not only won the division, he devoured it.

3. Buster Douglas achieves the impossible

Tyson looked unbeatable in 1990 before everything changed in Tokyo.

Buster Douglas entered the fight as a massive underdog and was expected to only survive a few rounds before Tyson obliterated him like everyone else.

Instead, Douglas recovered from an eighth-round knockout in which he knocked out Tyson and then knocked him out in one of the biggest upsets the sport has ever seen.

The reaction inside boxing was one of disbelief, as the thought of Tyson losing seemed barely real at the time.

Overnight, the aura surrounding him disappeared.

Don King / HBO

4. Tyson goes to prison

In 1991, Tyson’s life extended far beyond boxing when he was accused and later convicted of rape and sentenced to prison a year later.

This defeat shocked the sports world.

Just a few years earlier, Tyson was the most feared athlete in the world. Suddenly, boxing’s biggest star was headed to prison as his career and reputation collapsed around him.

The man who once seemed untouchable suddenly became completely powerless.

The story reached far beyond boxing and permanently changed Tyson’s public image.

5. Tyson bites Evander Holyfield’s ear

Nothing captured Tyson’s events better than the night he bit Evander Holyfield’s ear in 1997.

Frustrated, livid and heartbroken in his rematch after being knocked out in the first fight, Tyson stunned millions of viewers around the world by biting Holyfield during the fight, causing chaos in the ring and outrage around the world.

The images became enduring boxing history. Even now, decades later, many fans still can’t believe they saw it live.

Tyson’s career brought boxing fear, violence, scandal, destruction and moments so unbelievable that they still seem unreal.

That’s why sport still can’t stop talking about it.


About the author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.

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Derek Chisora Slams Dana White Regarding Fighter Treatment Issues

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Derek Chisora Slams Dana White Regarding Fighter Treatment Issues

Derek Chisora accused Dana White of operating like a “slave owner,” but Conor Benn’s lucrative move to Zuffa Boxing offers a substantial counterpoint to the heavyweight’s attack.

Chisora’s complaint centered on White turning fighters away from his platform. That hardly explains the comparison, especially with Benn reportedly collecting $15 million for his first Zuffa appearance alone.

“Dana White is not my cup of tea, to be honest with you,” Chisora said in an interview with Fight Hub TV following the Tyson Fury–Anthony Joshua press conference. “Because the way he operates is just, he operates like a slave owner, man. You know, fighters want to fight on his platform. He tells them, ‘You’re not good enough for me, so go away.’ What is a fighter going to do? What is he going to do after that? That’s not right.”

Benn’s experience makes that accusation difficult to defend. His reported $15 million purse for facing Regis Prograis was followed by a world-title opportunity against Ryan Garcia. White’s platform has delivered both substantial money and a major fight for the British welterweight.

One boxer’s earnings cannot answer every question about a promoter’s treatment of fighters. But Chisora supplied no named example to support his accusation. Benn gives readers something concrete to weigh against it.

Chisora also argued that a fighter who performs poorly one night can improve the next time. Fair enough. Promoters still have to decide whom to sign, how many places they can offer, and which fights they want to stage. Wanting a contract does not create an entitlement to one.

His example concerns access to White’s platform, rather than restrictions imposed on someone already fighting there. Those are different issues, and Chisora never explained how rejection justified his language.

Asked about the dispute between Eddie Hearn and White, Chisora made his personal dislike clear. What he failed to provide was an argument strong enough to carry such a loaded accusation.

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Boxing 24/7 Wire

Boxing247.com is an independent boxing news publication covering the sport since 2001. It provides original reporting, fight analysis, schedules, results, and informed coverage of major fighters and events worldwide, backed by more than 25 years of professional boxing journalism.

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Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury: Live London Press Conference Showdown

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"Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury: Live London Press Conference Showdown"

The long-awaited, all-British heavyweight blockbuster between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua is officially set for December 11 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

Backed by Saudi powerbroker Turki Alalshikh, the defining clash will see both men pocket a career-high purse and settle the debate – to a degree – of this generation’s best UK heavyweight.

After more than a decade of false starts and fractured negotiations, the two former heavyweight champions will finally settle their rivalry in what promises to be the biggest commercial event in British boxing history. Broadcast rights have been secured by Netflix for a global audience and Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao may appear on the undercard, despite turning 49 one week after the event.

Crucially, Joshua’s camp held firm during negotiations to ensure the bout remained on domestic soil. Despite the potential for more lucrative offers overseas, ‘AJ’ refused to budge on the location, and the pair meet today in London to make it official.

Fans can watch live via the stream below, with the proceedings expected to kick off at 6 PM – though delays and gamesmanship may be a factor.