Скачать или смотреть Mike Tyson Vs Tony Tubbs 21.3.1988 - WBC, WBA & IBF World Heavyweight Championships

Mike Tyson on his first trip to Japan defends his Unified World Heavyweight titles against former WBA World Heavyweight Champion, Tony "TNT" Tubbs. More info below...

Mike Tyson won the WBC World Heavyweight title in 1986 followed by the WBA and IBF World Heavyweight titles in 1987 to unify the belts. Tyson's boxing record was very impressive with a high number of KO's. He had knocked out Marvis Frazier, former WBC World Cruiserweight champion Alfonzo Ratliff, WBC World Heavyweight champion Trevor Berbick, former WBC World Heavyweight champion Pinklon Thomas, undefeated Tyrell Biggs and former WBC and IBF World Heavyweight Champion Larry Holmes. He also owned unanimous decision wins against IBF Heavyweight Champion Tony Tucker, WBA World Heavyweight Champion James Smith and former World Heavyweight title challenger James "Quick" Tillis. Nobody was sure how to stop Tyson, he was a wrecking ball cleaning out the heavyweight division. His management thought it would be a good idea to stage a title defense in Japan where Tyson's popularity was huge. His record was 33-0.

Tony Tubbs turned pro in 1980 and had a much slower rise to world title contender-ship than that of Mike Tyson. He was known for being durable, possessing surprisingly fast hands and having a constantly changing weight. For the first 5 years of his career he was weighing in between 220 and 230lbs but he had fought as high as 242lbs! In 1985 Tubbs beat Greg Page for the WBA World Heavyweight title over 15 rounds. In his first defense however he lost it to Tim Witherspoon over 15 rounds and most people felt a big contributing factor was the fact Tubbs weighed 244lbs, 15 pounds heavier than when he won the belt! Over the course of 1987 Tubbs worked on getting his weight back down. In April he weighed in at 239 and won a unanimous decision over club fighter Mike Jameson, in May he was 233 and won a unanimous decision against former WAA (World Athletic Association) Super Middleweight Champion Jerry Halstead and in September he weighed in at a more reasonable 228lbs stopping journeyman Eddie Gonzales by way of a broken jaw in 3 rounds. His record heading into the fight with Tyson was 24-1.

The fight was short but exciting. Tubbs weighed in at 238lbs, hoping his increased bulk could withstand Tyson's shots. Tubbs did well in the first round keeping his distance and landing some good shots to the body while also trying to score uppercuts whenever Tyson stepped in. In round 2, Tubbs looked more relaxed however Tyson came on more aggressive. Midway through the round both men started fighting in close trading body shots and uppercuts, Tubbs giving as good as he got showing Tyson he wasn't scared. With 25 seconds left in the round Tubbs backed himself into the ropes and Tyson landed a big right hook to the body followed by a devastating right uppercut to the jaw. At first Tubbs didn't seem bothered however once the ref separated both men it was clear he was hurt. It only took one more left hook to the jaw and Tubbs stumbled around the ring falling to the canvas, his corner rushing in to stop the fight.

Tubb's still had a meaningful career for a short period following the loss against Tyson. In 1989 he beat Orlin Norris for the NABF Heavyweight title however the result was changed to a No Contest following a drug test in which Tubbs tested positive for an illegal substance. In 1991 he challenged undefeated Riddick Bowe and although he didn't win, Tubbs became the first man to take Bowe the 10 round distance. In 1993 Tubbs beat undefeated Alexander Zolkin and WBF Intercontinental Heavyweight champion Melton Bowen by unanimous decisions showing the boxing public he still had some fight left in him... In December 1993 Tubbs would win the "People's Choice One-Night Heavyweight Tournament" when he beat 4 men in one night, which included wins over Tyrell Biggs and Jose Ribalta while weighing a career high of 258lbs!. This would be the last big win for Tubbs. He challenged Jimmy Thunder in 1994 for the IBO World Heavyweight title but lost a close 12 round majority decision. He then had a rematch with Alexander Zolkin for the NABF Heavyweight title in 1995 losing by another close 12 round majority decision. Tubbs retired on his stool after 3 rounds against undefeated Brian Nielson in his next fight, with some people claiming he took a dive. Tubbs intially retired from the ring in 1997 following a win against South American Heavyweight champion Mario Oscar Melo but returned 5 years later in 2002. He fought mainly low level fighters for the remainder of his career with the exception of one fight in 2004 when Tubbs scored an upset split decision against undefeated Brian Minto and won the USA West Virginia State Heavyweight title. Tubbs retired in 2006 with a 47-10 record and is a very underrated fighter.