Mike Tyson is known for his devastating power, however, his knockout ability is something that came to him from a young age.
One of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time, Tyson, may have been one of the most feared fighters in the world at the peak of his career.
Although new boxing fans may know him for his fight with Jake Paul, Tyson’s 93-second knockout over Carl Williams and brutal stoppage of Michael Spinks are the true ‘Iron Mike’.
Tyson’s finishing ability is something that he displayed since his boxing debut. Although his most famous knockouts came in the late ’80s and ’90s, the former champion showed his knockout power in his teenage years too.
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Mike Tyson finished all of his first 18 opponents in less than one year
Making his professional debut in 1985, Tyson was just 18 years of age. Unsurprisingly, the knockout artist started as he meant to go on, with a first-round stoppage over Hector Merced.
The following month, Tyson was able to replicate his first quick finish, getting another stoppage in the first.
Without taking much damage in his performances, this meant that Tyson could take fights in quick succession, and that he did.
Making his debut in March of 1985, Tyson would compete in 15 fights that year. In those 15 fights, all of them would result in a stoppage. All but one fight was listed as a knockout, as Tyson got a retirement victory in July of that year.
In the opening two months of 1986, Tyson would add another three knockout victories to his resume, making it 18 finishes and 17 knockouts in 11 months, aged just 19.
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Mike Tyson’s last knockout victory came in 2003
Despite returning to the sport in 2024, Tyson originally left boxing in 2005, following a loss to Kevin McBride.
His last win came in 2003, when he turned back the clock with another first-round knockout.
Aged 36, Tyson was able to knock out Clifford Etienne in under a minute when the pair met in Memphis.
The win would be the 50th of his career, and the 44th knockout Tyson delivered. Among those knockouts, 22 came in the very first round.