How Did Mike Tyson Fare in His First Pro-Boxing Bout Against Hector Mercedes?

Published 03/06/2021, 1:00 PM EST

Back in the 90s, Mike Tyson emerged as the most flamboyant star of boxing. Prior to him, nobody in the sport could match the paramount stardom Tyson attained. With his impeccable skills and annihilating power, Tyson became the king of the big men’s division. But when the baddest man on the planet appeared firstly in 1985, no one expected him to trace such a long path in the sport.

Tyson was just 18 when he made his first professional stepping inside the squared circle. There was no buzz around him as the boxing fans were unaware of his capabilities.

But right in his first fight, ‘Iron’ Mike made a sheer statement. He took on Hector Mercedes in his debut fight and dispatched him in just Round 1.

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The duo began the fight on a good note with Mercedes landing some exuberant shots on the young gun Tyson. But the latter figured him out in less than a couple of minutes and began landing his dynamite-like hands on Mercedes.

‘Iron’ battered him with slick punches to the body and as he bent a bit, the baddest man on the planet attacked his face with mighty hits.

Mercedes felt the heat coming off his opponents’ hands. And this is principally why he didn’t interrupt the referee to stop the fight.

Mike Tyson made a sensational entry to the professional boxing world that night. However, it was just a snippet of his illustrious career.

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Mike Tyson – the people’s champ

Ever since that victory, Tyson never looked back. He stayed undefeated for the first five years of his pro boxing career. Tyson dismantled any and every opponent thrown in front of him. Although he had a career full of trials, ‘Iron’ Mike took it onto his stride and marched on to the peak.

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In a brief span of time, he became the most loved fighter in the sport. Fans loved his in-ring coupled and outside-the-game activities.

With his unmatched game-plan, Tyson signified his place in the most competitive division. He separated himself from the rest with his charm and ring-management skills.

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Truly, there’s never been a boxer as big as him. Tyson took the sport to sky heights and retired from boxing in 2005. And certainly, there may never be a boxer as big as him.

What is your favorite highlight of Mike Tyson’s illustrious career?

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Written by:

Prathamesh Singh Chauhan is a Boxing Author at EssentiallySports. He is a graduate from the International Institute of Sports Management who combines his love for sports, particularly combat sports, and his flair for writing and analysis to help him in his day-to-day work. He has prior professional experience with sporting organizations such as Star Sports, Khelo India, and NBA.

How Did Mike Tyson Fare in His First Pro-Boxing Bout Against Hector Mercedes?

Mike Tyson – the people’s champ

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