For one night in his career, Mike Tyson was unstoppable at his best, as seen by the generally praised greatness of his Michael Spinks demolition.
There have been many discussions regarding how Tyson would have performed at his best in any age of boxing, and some people even think he was the best ever for a short while.
Mike’s supporters contend that there was a period when he was completely untouchable as the former “Baddest Man on the Planet.” He was so strong that he could have defeated any historical heavyweight.
Butch Lewis revealed in an early 1990s interview that the incident included Michael Spinks in 1988.
The night ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson punched holes in the wall before big KO
Mike Tyson vs Michael Spinks
The fight, which took place in June at the Convention Hall in Atlantic City, was one of the most eagerly-anticipated battles of that era.
Two undefeated punchers, Tyson was on 34-0 and Spinks at 31-0 at the first bell. Dependent on who you asked, punters were split on who would come out on top.
But a moment before the clash began, Lewis, the manager of Spinks, knew his man had no chance of winning.
Lewis explained it in an ESPN documentary entitled, ‘The Fallen Champ’ at 47 minutes and 20 seconds of the film.
“Spink vs Tyson, it’s on. The whole world is waiting for the fight,” said Lewis.
“So, you go to each other’s dressing room to check the wraps, gloves, etc. I always try to get an edge when my guy’s getting ready to box.
“I go in [to Tyson’s dressing room]. So I think I will rattle the kid because he’s under a lot of pressure.
“At the time Jacobs had passed, Jim Jacobs – the closest guy to him – had died on the verge of this happening.
Holes in the wall
“He was in the mix with Robin Givens, and Don King was trying to pull him away from (his promoter) Bill Cayton.
“So I’m in the dressing room with Tyson. I’m looking to rattle this guy. I walk in. He’s standing there with [Kevin] Rooney on the mitts. And he’s punching holes in the wall!
“I’m thinking, to myself, this guy is getting ready to fight my guy, my little guy, and he’s punching holes in the wall before he goes out to fight?
“Oh no!”
Unstoppable
He continued: “That night, Mike Tyson knew his whole life had built to this moment. He’d been groomed like a gladiator.
“He was so tuned into that fight because he felt that nobody would accept him outside of the ring if he never performed inside that ring.
“That Tyson that we met that night. No other boxer – professionally or as an amateur – has seen that Mike Tyson, other than Mike himself.
“Mike Tyson was at best he could be that night.”
It would be twenty months before Tyson was finally knocked off his perch by James ‘Buster Douglas in Tokyo as his world fell apart.
On the other hand, Spinks would never fight against despite being only 32 when taking the loss.