Mike Tyson was known for his highlight reel knockouts and these are the fastest finishes in his boxing career.

Iron Mike Tyson is one of the most well known and celebrated heavyweight boxing champions of all time. His 1980s rise to the undisputed champion of the world is legendary. Mike Tyson was dubbed the “baddest man on the planet” and the majority of planet earth refused to disagree with that. Tyson intimidated his opponents both inside the ring and outside. Tyson dominated the competition along the way.

Mike Tyson had a record of 50 wins and 6 losses with an amazing 44 knockouts. His knockouts become box office attractions. The power of Kid Dynamite made him a pop culture phenomenon. Even after spending three years incarcerated, Tyson would be a ratings juggernaut. The boxer would go on to cross over in professional wrestling and blockbuster movies. Yet, Tyson is most known for his devastating knockout power; having 24 first round knockouts.

10. Mike Tyson Defeats Eddie Richardson At 1:17

Houston, Texas Massacre In November 1985

Fighter
Weight (lbs)
Opponent
Weight (lbs)
Date
Location

Mike Tyson
219
Eddie Richardson
212
1985-11-13
Ramada-Houston Hotel, Houston, Texas, USA

19-year-old Mike Tyson would walk into Houston, Texas for his 12th professional fight against a 6’6 heavyweight in Eddie Richardson. Tyson was a 5’10 ball of fury, and this would be one of the tallest boxers Tyson would fight in his career. At the time, Richardson was by far the tallest opponent that young Tyson had seen. Yet, Mike Tyson dropped Richardson to the mat with the first punch he threw. Richardson would get up, but not last long as Tyson drilled his trademark hook and knocked out the 6’6 Richardson in 1:37 seconds of the first round.

9. Mike Tyson Defeats Lorenzo Canady At 1:05

Atlantic City Showdown In August 1985

Fighter
Weight (lbs)
Opponent
Weight (lbs)
Date
Location

Mike Tyson
213
Lorenzo Canady
204
1985-08-15
Resorts International, Atlantic City, New J

In Mike Tyson’s seventh professional fight in his 1985 rookie year, he would knock out Lorenzo Canady in 1:05 seconds of the first round. Tyson would maul Canady in the corner, until the referee stepped in to end the contest. Canady came into the contest 3-0 with one knockout to start his career. His loss to Tyson would essentially end his boxing career. Canady would continue to perform until early 1991, but to little success. His career record ended up being 7 wins and 10 losses.

8. Mike Tyson Defeats Sterling Benjamin In 54 Seconds

Final Fight With Trainer Cus D’Amato

Fighter
Weight (lbs)
Opponent
Weight (lbs)
Date
Location

Mike Tyson
221
Sterling Benjamin
227
1985-11-01
Latham Coliseum, Latham, New York, USA

Mike Tyson would come in on a one-week layoff to battle Sterling Benjamin in New York. Benjamin was coming in on a 6-match losing streak and Tyson would make it seven in less than a minute. Benjamin’s career started in 1975 and would end on November 1 1985, after his 54 seconds with Mike Tyson. Just three days later, famed Tyson trainer/mentor Cus D’Amato passed away with pneumonia. D’Amato was also considered Tyson’s father figure.

7. Mike Tyson Defeated Trent Singleton In 52 Seconds

Second Career Fight, First Finishing In Under 1 Minute

Fighter
Weight (lbs)
Opponent
Weight (lbs)
Date
Location

Mike Tyson
213
Lorenzo Canady
204
1985-08-15
Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA

Mike Tyson was only 18 years old when he defeated Trent Singleton in 52 seconds. The match was the second of Tyson’s career, while Singleton came in with a 1-3 record. Singleton would be outmatched quickly by Tyson, as Iron Mike dropped him within the first 15 seconds. To his credit, Singleton got back up, only to be dropped two more times before the match officially ended. This would be the last bout of Trent Singleton’s career.

6. Mike Tyson Defeated Mark Young In 50 Seconds

Final Fight Of 1985

Fighter
Weight (lbs)
Opponent
Weight (lbs)
Date
Location

Mike Tyson
219
Mark Young
207
1985-12-27
Latham Coliseum, Latham, New York, USA

Two days after Christmas in 1985, Mike Tyson would lay out Mark Young in 50 seconds. This would be the 15th professional fight of Mike Tyson’s rookie year (10 months). Young came in with 16 professional fights and average success in those bouts.

While Young was no match for Mike Tyson, he would continue to fight professionally throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Young’s final bout came in 1999, and his career record tallied 15 wins and 37 losses with 9 knockouts to his credit.

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5. Mike Tyson Defeated Clifford Etienne In 49 Seconds

Return To Glory In Memphis

Fighter
Weight (lbs)
Opponent
Weight (lbs)
Date
Location

Mike Tyson
226
Clifford Etienne
223
2003-02-22
The Pyramid, Memphis, Tennessee, USA

Mike Tyson’s defeat of Clifford Etienne is the outlier on this list. The Tyson/ Etienne bout occurred in 2003, with Tyson being 36 years of age. This was not the Kid Dynamite of the 1980s, this was Tyson coming off a huge loss to Lennox Lewis. Etienne was an up-and-coming heavyweight, with only one loss on his record when he stepped into the ring with Tyson. 49 seconds later, Etienne would turn into a journeyman boxer before a crime spree led him to prison.

4. Mike Tyson Defeated Michael Johnson In 39 Seconds

‘Iron Mike’ Secured His Eighth Win In Style

Fighter
Weight (lbs)
Opponent
Weight (lbs)
Date
Location

Mike Tyson
220
Michael Johnson
196
1985-09-05
Atlantis Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA

Mike Tyson defeated Michael Johnson in 39 seconds in Atlantic City on September 5th 1985. Johnson came in with much more experience; his career started in 1981. While Tyson would be competing in his 8th professional bout, this was the 16th of Johnson’s career. Yet, Tyson overwhelmed Michael Johnson, knocking him down with a body shot early in the match. While, Johnson would get up, Tyson would lay him out with a devastating right hand to the jaw. Johnson would compete until 1991, with a record of 13-18 with 11 knockouts.

3. Mike Tyson Defeated Ricardo Spain In 39 Seconds

Mike Tyson’s National Television Debut

Fighter
Weight (lbs)
Opponent
Weight (lbs)
Date
Location

Mike Tyson
217
Ricardo Spain
185
1985-06-20
Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA

In June 1985 Mike Tyson would destroy Ricardo Spain in his 4th career professional bout. While the event would have Spain announced as 7-0, BoxRec has this as Spain’s second career professional fight. No matter his official record, he did not last long with Iron Mike. Tyson would drop him for the first time in 18 seconds of the fight. Then Tyson finished off Spain with a left hook that landed at the 36-second mark. Spain crumbled to the ground and the referee didn’t even count before ending the fight.

2. Mike Tyson Defeats Robert Colay In 37 Seconds

Tenth Win Of His Career

Fighter
Weight (lbs)
Opponent

Mike Tyson
217
Robert Colay
224
1985-10-25
Atlantis Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA

Mike Tyson would make short work of Robert ‘Big Bob’ Colay in October 1985. Colay would be dropped by the lethal Tyson left hook 27 seconds into the first round. A nine count later, had referee Ted Pick call to the end of the match.

After losing to Tyson, Colay would lose his next 5 bouts and retire in 1998 with a career record of 7 wins and 13 loses. Colay came into the bout with a 7 win and 7 lose record, yet the 29-year-old had no chance against the 19-year-old phenom.

The proverbial top of the food chain, these are the top ten big boys in the annals of the heavyweight boxing division.

1. Mike Tyson Defeated Marvis Frazier in 30 Seconds

30 Second Fall At Glens Fall

Fighter
Weight (lbs)
Opponent
Weight (lbs)
Date
Location

Mike Tyson
217
Marvis Frazier
211
1986-07-26
Civic Center, Glens Falls, New York, USA

Mike Tyson would win his 25th career start in July 1986. Tyson would fight Marvis Frazier, son of former Heavyweight Champion, Hall of Famer Joe Frazier. Marvis Frazier came into the fight 16-1 with his only loss to former Heavyweight Champion Larry Holmes. Yet, Frazier did not put much of a fight against Tyson. A right uppercut would lead to Tyson’s fastest professional fight. Frazier would fight and win two more times in his career, before retiring.