On this day in 1987, Mike Tyson became the youngest heavyweight to acquire the World Boxing Association (WBA) championship belt when he defeated James Smith in 12 rounds…
On this day in 1987, Mike Tyson made history by becoming the youngest heavyweight champion to acquire the World Boxing Association (WBA) championship belt. Tyson, who was only 20 years old at the time, defeated James Smith in a grueling 12-round match that went down in boxing history.
Born on June 30, 1966, in Brooklyn, New York, Tyson was introduced to boxing at a young age and quickly showed promise in the sport. He turned pro in 1985 and quickly made a name for himself in the boxing world, thanks to his fierce style and devastating punches.
In 1986, Tyson defeated Trevor Berbick to become the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history at the age of just 20 years and 4 months. He then went on to successfully defend his title against a number of opponents, including Pinklon Thomas, Tony Tucker, and Tyrell Biggs.
But it was Tyson's fight against James "Bonecrusher" Smith on March 7, 1987, that really cemented his place in boxing history. Smith, who was 33 years old at the time and had a record of 19 wins and 5 losses, was a tough opponent for Tyson. The fight went the distance, with Tyson winning by unanimous decision after 12 rounds.
Tyson's victory over Smith made him the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, and he held the WBA, WBC, and IBF titles at the same time. He went on to defend his titles several more times before losing to Buster Douglas in a shocking upset in 1990.
Despite his later troubles outside the ring, Mike Tyson's achievements in boxing cannot be denied. His skill, power, and speed made him one of the greatest boxers of all time, and his victory over James Smith on this day in 1987 will always be remembered as a historic moment in the sport.
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