2: Michael Spinks
We all remember this fight for the obvious reasons: the obscenity of Tyson cashing in $21 million for 90 seconds work.
Investigate what anyone else was getting paid for their work in 1988––movie stars, athletes in any sport, Michael Jackson––Tyson was the most expensive drug on the market for us. And he was 21.
Conceivably we had another 9 years of him in his prime to look forward to while he, at this time, was marketed by some of the most conservative companies in the world (Toyota, Pepsi, Kodak, Nintendo), was going to beat Tiger Woods to becoming sports first billionaire.
Had Tyson stayed focused inside and outside of the ring, he was on his way to being a billionaire before he'd reach 30.
Tyson's fight against Spinks puts in perspective just how big he, and this fight, was at the time. Spinks had never been knocked down before. He was undefeated and come away with two victories against Larry Holmes, the first man ever to arguably defeat the great champion.
You weren't thought of as crazy if you picked Spinks to somehow frustrate Tyson and leave Atlantic City with a victory.
But then Tyson entered the arena. For my money it's one was the finest displays of gladiatorial menace ever seen leading up to a fight. Even the music is extraordinary with clanging chains and this malignant chord of menace reverberating.
The Tyson entering the ring against Spinks would never return. No other fighter besides Michael Spinks fought
this Mike Tyson. And when we think about his place in boxing history, we should consider this Tyson against the other heavyweights, at their best, that we compare him to.