BACKGROUND
In 1986, the three major boxing organizations, the WBA, WBC and IBF teamed up with HBO to develop a unification tournament that would ultimately unify all three Heavyweight titles and determine the next Undisputed Champion. The first fight in the series pitted WBC Heavyweight champion Pinklon Thomas against Trevor Berbick on March 22, 1986. Berbick would capture the WBC Heavyweight title after defeating Thomas by unanimous decision and move on to face the undefeated Mike Tyson in his first title defense. Tyson dominated Berbick in their match, knocking out the champion in the second round to win his first heavyweight championship. Meanwhile, James “Bonecrusher” Smith would defeat Tim Witherspoon to become the new WBA Heavyweight champion, thus setting up a match with Tyson with both fighter’s titles on the line, which Tyson would win by unanimous decision. The IBF champion Michael Spinks was scheduled to defend his title against Tony Tucker with the winner of that match moving on to face the winner of the Tyson–Smith bout. However, Spinks decided to pullout of his match with Tucker, instead choosing to face Gerry Cooney in a more lucrative fight that would pay him $4 million, leading to the IBF stripping Spinks of their title. As a result, the organizations sanctioned an event that would see Tyson defend his WBA and WBC titles against Thomas, while Tony Tucker and James “Buster” Douglas would meet each other for the vacant IBF crown. The winners of these two matches would then face one another for the right to become the next Undisputed Heavyweight Champion.
THE FIGHT
Tyson was the aggressor for nearly the entire fight, costantly getting the better of Thomas with his power punches. Tyson was nearly able to get the victory in the first round. With about 40 seconds left in the round, Tyson staggered Thomas with a left hook–right hook combination. With Thomas’ back now against the ropes, Tyson delivered an 8-punch combination in an attempt to get the knockout victory, but Thomas was able withstand Tyson’s assault and survived the round without being knocked down. Thomas was able to rebound and last another four full rounds with Tyson, using his left jab to keep Tyson off-stride while clinching Tyson whenever Tyson came close. The fight would come to an end with a minute remaining in round 6. 30 seconds into the second minute, Tyson was able to catch Thomas with a left hook that clearly hurt the challenger. Tyson would follow this with a relentless 15-punch combination that dropped Thomas to the canvas for the first time in his professional career. Before referee Carlos Padilla, Jr. could reach the count of 10, Thomas’ trainer Angelo Dundee entered the ring causing Padilla to stop the fight and officially declare the result a technical knockout victory for Tyson.
AFTERMATH
Tyson’s victory would officially setup a unification match with Tony Tucker, who was able to capture the IBF Heavyweight Championship by defeating Buster Douglas by unanimous decision prior to the Tyson–Thomas fight. The two men went the full 12 rounds, with Tyson ultimately picking up the victory by unanimous decision to become the first Undisputed Heavyweight Champion since Leon Spinks in 1978.
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