It is too big a challenge to pinpoint Iron Mike’s best knockout throughout the course of his career. Mike Tyson bagged 44 knockouts out of a total of 50 wins, having taken down the likes of Larry Holmes. However, Tyson’s former trainer, Teddy Atlas, answers this question with no hesitation.

The knockout that Atlas lauds as his favorite is that of Trevor Berbick. The Baddest Man on the Planet sent Berbick to the canvas in the second round of their fight.

In an interview with SportsCenter, Teddy Atlas recalls how he, alongside Cus D’Amato, taught Tyson to pick the perfect spot to land a punch. Ranging from behind the ears to the temple.

The goal? To inflict the maximum amount of damage as possible. And it worked wonders for him.

“Oh, that’s an easy one. It’s got to be Trevor Berbick. There was no other opening, so he hits him with a left hook on the temple, and what does he do. Berbick falls this way. He falls that way. Falls backwards, he gets up, he falls again. He goes through the ropes. You talk about dramatic knockout. You talk about that’s for the heavyweight title,” said Teddy Atlas.

Teddy compares the moment Mike Tyson dropped Berbick to that of a star on broadway declaring that “I am a star. Look at me.”

Mike Tyson vs Trevor Berbick

With the WBC world heavyweight title and his unbeaten streak on the line, Tyson took on Berbick and triumphed. The 20-year-old Mike Tyson breathed life back into the heavyweight division by becoming the youngest man to hold the heavyweight crown at the professional level.

While Berbick reigned over the heavyweight division, Iron Mike was the up and coming national phenomenon at that time. What fans and experts regarded as an extraordinary feat was Tyson achieving his status in the boxing circuit without the springboard of an Olympic appearance.

Trending

Ignoring Mother’s Warning After $50 Million Payout Could Cost Ryan Garcia Big Time

April 23, 2024 05:12 PM EDT

Ryan Garcia’s Payout for Devin Haney Fight to Exceed ‘$50 Million’ After $2 Million Bet Pays Off Big

April 22, 2024 08:51 PM EDT

Devin Haney’s Mom: Real Reason He Left Her at the Age of 14?

April 20, 2024 05:05 PM EDT

Tim Bradley Jr. Explodes in Fury Over Ryan Garcia’s Vulgar Taunt After Devin Haney Win

April 23, 2024 10:45 PM EDT

Can You Bet on Yourself in Boxing? Ryan Garcia’s $50 Million Payout Sparks Debate Among Fans

April 23, 2024 01:55 PM EDT

Get instantly notified of the hottest Boxing stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

D’Amato picked Tyson up from a correctional school from the streets of Brooklyn, New York. And anyone who was unaware of Tyson’s exploits on the professional stage was in for a rude awakening.

However, passing away a year before the fight, D’Amato didn’t live to see Tyson’s most prodigious win. Fans and experts felt that Tyson would soon lose his way, without his confidant and father figure. But Tyson was set to prove his doubters wrong, and how!

Going into the Berbick fight, Tyson was 27-0, he won 25 of which via KO. During the early minutes of the fight, Berbick tried to flex his strength on Tyson, even landing an illegal blow to the back of Tyson’s head. Standing tall and unfazed, Tyson started moving on Berbick before eventually ending the fight.

Dropping Berbick in the second round and becoming the WBC heavyweight champion of the world, Tyson vowed to fight anyone and effectively unifying the titles. A promise that he made good on.

Which Mike Tyson KO is your favorite?