It is amazing to think that 35 years have passed since ‘Iron” Mike Tyson made the first defence of the undisputed heavyweight title on 16 October 1987 against number one contender Tyrell Biggs. It capped, what would be in today’s pugilistic environment, an astonishing eleven months for the champion.
Starting November ’86, Tyson had obliterated reigning WBC title holder Trevor Berbick in just two rounds to become the youngest heavyweight champion in history, aged just 20 years old. Four months later he met WBA titleist James ‘Bonecrusher’ Smith in one of the semifinals of the HBO unification tournament, winning a twelve round “hugathon” widely on points. Just two months later, he stepped back in the ring to defend the titles against former WBC champ Pinklon Thomas, scoring a brutal, highlight reel sixth round knockout.
On the same card, Tony Tucker stopped James ‘Buster’ Douglas in ten to win the IBF title in the other semifinal after Michael Spinks relinquished the belt. Three months later in August, the pair came together to decide an undisputed champion. Tyson, the tournament favourite, took a unanimous decision and became the first unified champion since Leon Spinks in 1978. In just nine months, he had cleaned up and was now ready for the next batch of challengers: Biggs was first.
Bad blood existed between the two after an incident occurred where Tyson, despite not qualifying for the Olympics, travelled to Los Angeles with the team to gain further experience. Biggs had been so dominant at super-heavyweight that Tyson had been forced to drop down to heavyweight where he had lost a disputed decision to Henry Tillman, costing him his spot on the team. He had reacted by walking out of the arena and smashing a tree trunk with his bare fists. Whilst at the airport on this trip, a fan, having spotted the team, wished Tyson luck in his fight. Apparently Biggs, five years older than Tyson, laughed and said “I don’t know why you’re wishing him luck, he isn’t going to the Olympics”. It was a comment that burned in Tyson’s mind.
Biggs had been an outstanding amateur, punctuated by winning the super-heavyweight gold at the ’84 Olympics, and much was expected of him. Standing 6 feet 5 inches and possessing an 80 inch reach, Biggs athleticism behind his left jab had led some to believe that it was he who would be the man to halt the momentum of the young champion. But his own career hadn’t really caught fire. He had solid wins over Renaldo Snipes (W10) and David Bey (TKO 6), and had displayed heart when he outpointed Jeff Sims despite breaking his collarbone during the fight. But there was a large shadow lurking over him.
Unbeknownst to the public, Biggs had been battling drug and alcohol addiction and had been in and out of rehabilitation centres. He was in one just before he was due to turn professional and it would plague him throughout his career. This, on top of his performances, gave thought that his handlers felt it was best to “cash-in” on him now before it was too late.
Adding fuel to fire, Biggs continued to antagonise Tyson. Firstly, he questioned his height. Listed just below 6 feet, Biggs made the comment “I’m not here to lay down. I’m not afraid of Mike Tyson because he’s a man, like myself. On top of that, he’s 5 feet 8 and I’m 6 feet 5”. Then he added “I don’t know this Tyson you guys talk about. I know Tyson from way back when. He’s never fought someone like me, someone with a strong jab who can box and is not going in there just to survive”. Tyson responded, giving this insight in to his mindset: “I never really hated anybody, but I think I hate Tyrell Biggs. I want to give him a lesson. I want to hurt him real bad”.
At the Trump Plaza, Atlantic City, Biggs (15-0, 10 KO’s) entered first for the last scheduled fifteen round heavyweight title fight. Dressed in white, he danced around the perimeter of the ring as if to exhibit his skills. Tyson (31-0, 27 KO’s) followed, wearing his familiar, no-frills, black trunks and ankle high boots. His sweating, shirtless torso was covered by his sanctioning body trinkets. He was fired up and ready to do damage.
Biggs started the opener as predicted, up on his toes and snapping out the jab from a low guard. Tyson took his time as Biggs moved side to side, keeping himself as elusive as possible. Tyson got through with a left hook with 30 seconds to go but Biggs tactics were enough to bag the round. However, it didn’t take long for that strategy to go out of the window. Tyson’s pressure closed down Biggs, allowing the champion to pound away with short hooks to head and body. Biggs started to hold as Tyson sneered at him with the look of a tiger stalking its prey. With 20 seconds to go, Tyson shook Biggs with a short left hook.
The steady beating continued throughout the third as Tyson hurt Biggs throughout with hooks. A right hand opened a cut over his left eye and to add further insult, Tyson made a mockery of Biggs superior reach by out-jabbing the taller man. Rounds four and five were no different as the gulf in class and seasoning became all too apparent. Tyson’s jab was smacking in to Biggs nose and a slight dip to the right created the opening for his left hook to continously zero in on the right side of the Olympic champion’s head. Rights to the body were taking Biggs legs away and crunching rights to the head added to his woes. At the end of the round Tyson grinned menacingly.
Biggs took in beating in the sixth, rocked on several occasions as things became exceptionally one-sided. As both came out for the seventh, the general thought was how much more could he take? As it transpired, the answer was not much more at all. Summoning one last effort, he tried to drag himself back in to the fight. But Tyson finally broke his resistance. With just over half a minute left, he jarred Biggs with a stiff jab before a short left hook sent Biggs stumbling backwards, landing partially through the bottom rope. He listened to the referee Tony Orlando’s count, bravely rising at nine. But it was to no avail against a finisher like Tyson, who fired off a short succession of hooks, punctuated with a final left that sent the defeated challenger reeling to the canvas, where the fight was waved off.
After the fight Tyson admitted that he purposely extended the beating and was intent on making Biggs suffer.
“In the third round I knew I had him” he said, before chilling adding, “He was crying in there with the body shots, making woman gestures”. It was a comment that would have ramifications further down the line.
Biggs never fought for the title again, settling in to the role of gatekeeper whilst still battling his own demons and addictions.
Tyson would continue his reign of terror for another 2 1/2 years, adding a further five defences. The publics fascination with him would continue as they recalled this era in which he appeared both dominant and unbeatable. On this night with Biggs, he looked both.
