The Boxing Career of Mike Tyson

Fight-by-Fight Career Record

LOS ANGELES - FEBRUARY 11: Boxer Mike Tyson arrives at the premiere of 'Against the Ropes' at the Chinese Theater on February 11, 2004 in Los Angeles, California.
Kevin Winter / Getty Images
By
Andrew Eisele
Andrew Eisele
Andrew Eisele is a boxing writer who has covered the sport for Time, Inc. He also hosts TV and radio sports talk shows.
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Updated on 08/19/18

Mike Tyson had a controversial career, but a highly successful one—at least in his prime. He was the youngest boxer to win the World Boxing Association, World Boxing Council, and International Boxing Federation titles. In 1988, Tyson became the lineal heavyweight champion after knocking out Michael Spinks in a 91-second bout. The boxer's career record includes 50 wins (including 44 KOs), six losses, and two no contests.

The 1980s: Tyson Dominates

Tyson reached his peak during the 1980s. He dominated the second half of the decade like few boxers before him. For five years his fights were a string of almost uninterrupted KOs and technical knockouts, where the referee had to stop the fight because Tyson's opponent could not continue.

1985

  • March 6 - Hector Mercedes, Albany, New York, TKO 1
  • April 10 - Trent Singleton, Albany, TKO 1
  • May 23 - Don Halpern, Albany, KO 4
  • June 20 - Rick Spain, Atlantic City, New Jersey, KO 1
  • July 11 - John Alderson, Atlantic City, TKO 2
  • July 19 - Larry Sims, Poughkeepsie, New York, KO 3
  • Aug. 15 - Lorenzo Canady, Atlantic City, TKO 1
  • Sept. 5 - Michael Johnson, Atlantic City, KO 1
  • Oct. 9 - Donnie Long, Atlantic City, KO 1
  • Oct. 25 - Robert Colay, Atlantic City, KO 1
  • Nov. 1 - Sterling Benjamin, Latham, TKO 1
  • Nov. 13 - Eddie Richardson, Houston, KO 1
  • Nov. 22 - Conroy Nelson, Latham, KO 2
  • Dec. 6 - Sammy Scaff, New York, KO 1
  • Dec. 27 - Mark Young, Latham, KO 1

1986

Tyson's opponent in a February bout, journeyman Jesse Ferguson, was originally disqualified—for holding and clinching Tyson to avoid further punishment—giving Tyson the win. After the referee stopped the fight, Tyson's corner protested, saying that the ruling would blemish the boxer's perfect KO record. Officials agreed and adjusted the ruling to TKO. Later that year, Tyson defeated Trevor Berbick in a match for the WBC heavyweight belt.

  • Jan. 10 - Dave Jaco, Albany, TKO 1
  • Jan. 24 - Mike Jamison, Atlantic City, TKO 5
  • Feb. 16 - Jesse Ferguson, Troy, TKO 6
  • March 10 - Steve Zouski, Uniondale, KO 3
  • May 3 - James Tillis, Glen Falls, W 10
  • May 20 - Mitch Green, New York, W 10
  • June 13 - Reggie Gross, New York, TKO 1
  • June 28 - William Hosea, Troy, KO 1
  • July 11 - Lorenzo Boyd, Swan Lake, KO 2
  • July 26 - Marvis Frazier, Glen Falls, KO 1
  • Aug. 17 - Jose Ribalta, Atlantic City, TKO 10
  • Sept. 6 - Alfonzo Ratliff, Las Vegas, KO 2
  • Nov. 22 - Trevor Berbick, Las Vegas, TKO 2

1987

Tyson won the WBA heavyweight title this year as well as the IBF title. He successfully defended his other titles and become the undisputed world heavyweight champion.

  • March 7 - James Smith, Las Vegas, W 12
  • May 30 - Pinklon Thomas, Las Vegas, TKO 6
  • Aug. 1 - Tony Tucker, Las Vegas, W 12
  • Oct. 16 - Tyrell Biggs, Atlantic City, TKO 7

1988

Tyson remained champion by knocking out Larry Holmes in January, Tony Tubbs in March, and Michael Spinks in June.

  • Jan. 22 - Larry Holmes, Atlantic City, TKO 4
  • March 21 - Tony Tubbs, Tokyo, TKO 2
  • June 27 -​ Michael Spinks, Atlantic City, KO 1

1989

Tyson scored two TKOs to remain the undisputed world heavyweight titleholder.

  • Feb. 25 - Frank Bruno, Las Vegas, TKO 5
  • July 21 - Carl Williams, Atlantic City, N.J., TKO 1

The 1990s: Prison and Comeback

After dominating the late 1980s, Tyson lost the world heavyweight title early in 1990 when he was knocked out by James Douglas.

1990

  • Feb. 11 - James Douglas, Tokyo, KO by 10
  • June 16 - Henry Tillman, Las Vegas, KO 1
  • Dec. 8 - Alex Stewart, Atlantic City, KO 1

1991

  • March 18 - Donovan Ruddock, Las Vegas, TKO 7
  • June 28 - Donovan Ruddock, Las Vegas, W 12

1995

After serving a three-year prison sentence for rape, Tyson made a comeback, winning an August bout against Peter McNeeley.

  • Aug. 19 - Peter McNeeley, Las Vegas, W DSQ 1
  • Dec. 16 - Buster Mathis, Jr., Philadelphia, KO 3

1996

Tyson won back the WBC title in March and the WBA belt in September. However, he lost the WBA title to Evander Holyfield in November.

  • March 16 - Frank Bruno, Las Vegas, TKO 3
  • Sept. 7 - Bruce Seldon, Las Vegas, TKO 1
  • Nov. 9 - Evander Holyfield, Las Vegas, TKO by 11

1997

Tyson was disqualified, losing his chance to retake the WBA title, after he famously bit off part of Evander Holyfield's ear in the third round of their June bout.

  • June 28 - Evander Holyfield, Las Vegas, L DQ 3

1999

  • Jan. 16 - Francois Botha, Las Vegas, KO 5
  • Oct. 23 - Orlin Norris, Las Vegas, NC 1

The 2000s: Troubles Continue

Tyson notched a few wins in the early 2000s, but he was later knocked out by several opponents.

2000

  • Jan. 29 - Julius Francis, Manchester, England, TKO 2
  • June 24 -Lou Savarese, Glasgow, Scotland, TKO 1
  • Oct. 20 - Andrew Golota, Detroit, NC 3

2001

  • Oct. 13 - Brian Nielsen, Copenhagen, Denmark, TKO 7

2002

Tyson was well past his prime when he fought—and was knocked out by—Lennox Lewis in a challenge for the WBC and IBF crowns. 

2003

  • Feb. 22 - Clifford Etienne, Memphis, KO 1

2004

  • July 30 - Danny Williams, Louisville, Kentucky, KO by 4

2005

Referee Joe Cortez stopped Tyson's fight against Kevin McBride when Tyson didn't come out for the seventh round. It was Tyson's last fight—he announced his retirement after the bout.

  • June 11 - Kevin McBride, Washington, D.C., TKO by 6
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