Mike Tyson Boxing Career Timeline – Fights, Milestones and Legacy

Blog / Aug 08,2025

Mike Tyson’s boxing career timeline is almost like a movie script loaded with record-breaking wins and unforgettable knockouts after he reached peak of the boxing world. Tyson became a household name within a few years of his debut and was referred as an unstoppable force in the boxing world.

This blog will explore the different Mike Tyson fight timeline and offer you the opportunity to look back into the defining moments in the timeline of Mike Tyson’s career. If you are Tyson fan, this blog is not the one that you should miss.

Mike Tyson Fight Timeline

Mike Tyson stepped into the professional boxing ring for the first time in 1985 at the age of 18 and rapidly gained popularity because of explosiveness that shook the world. There was almost no matched for Tyson’s speed and power which made quickly gave him a reputation of being an extremely ferocious fighter. He fought more than 25 professional bouts in just over a year and often emerged victorious in just the first round of match.

Key moments during this period include:

• Tyson made his professional boxing debut on March 6 in 1985 and defeated Hector Mercedes via first-round TKO.
• He became the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history after knocking out Trevor Berbick in November 1986, when he just 20 years old.
• Boxing continued to witness Tyson in-ring dominance in 1987 and 1988 as he successfully defended his titles against top contenders like Larry Holmes, Tony Tucker, and Michael Spinks.

These victories did not just make him the face of the sport and established him as one of the biggest boxing legends, but also added strong pillars to the Mike Tyson boxing career timeline. His aggressive style and intimidating in-ring actions became iconic.

Timeline of Mike Tyson’s Career Lows

Tyson’s career wasn’t a straight shot to greatness. Like many legendary athletes, he faced both triumph and tragedy. The timeline of Mike Tyson reflects major turning points that defined more than just his boxing record — it told a story of resilience.

Highlights:

• 1989 – Tyson suffered his first major personal setbacks, including changes in his training and management team.
• February 11, 1990 – In one of the biggest upsets in boxing history, Tyson lost to Buster Douglas in Tokyo. His undefeated streak came to an end.
• 1992–1995 – Tyson served a prison sentence, which paused his career at its peak.

Yet even after these challenges, Tyson returned to the ring with determination, marking the start of a new phase in the Mike Tyson timeline.

Mike Tyson’s Comebacks

After being released in 1995, Tyson immediately started his journey to reclaim his titles. He won several fights after his comeback and showcased that his brilliance and power. The atmosphere around his return added a lot of drama to the Mike Tyson fight timeline.

• Tyson defeated Frank Bruno and Bruce Seldon in 1996 to take back his WBC and WBA titles.
• The infamous rematch with Evander Holyfield took place in 1997 and is always remembered because of ear-biting incident. Even though the match was controversial, it cemented Tyson’s place in the list of boxing greats.

Mike Tyson’s Last Match

Mike Tyson’s last professional fight was against Kevin McBride in June 11 of 2005. Tyson lost the match via TKO and declared that fighting was not in his heart anymore.

Now that you know when was Mike Tyson’s last match as a professional boxer, one question that new boxing follower have is ‘Did Tyson not fight again?’

The answer is yes because Mike Tyson stepped into the ring again in 2025 to face Jake Paul in a commercial boxing match which he lost as well.

List of Mike Tyson Fights: Notable Opponents and Outcomes

While Tyson fought dozens of opponents, a few stand out as critical moments in shaping his legend. Here’s a brief bullet-point look at major fights from the list of Mike Tyson fights that defined his career:

• Tyson won the WBC title via second-round TKO against Trevor Berbick in 1986.
• Larry Holmes was knocked out in the fourth round by Tyson in 1988.
• Tyson knocked Michael Spinks out in just 91 seconds of the match in 1988.
• The first career defeat for Tyson came in the hands of Buster Douglas in 1990.
• Tyson lost both his matches against Evander Holyfield in 1996 & 1997, with the second fight ending in a disqualification.
• Lost to Lennox Lewis in 2002 after being knocked out in Round 8.
• Tyson’s last match before retiring from professional boxing was against Kevin McBride in 2005, with McBridge defeating him via TKO.

These matches have played a major role in building the intriguing career timeline of Mike Tyson.

How Old Is Mike Tyson Today?

Mike Tyson is 59 years old as of 2025. Although he has long retired from professional fighting, but his influence is far from over. Tyson’s name is still synonymous with power, speed, and unpredictability. His appearances, public talks, and interviews continue to engage fans across the world.

The fact that people still search for terms like Mike Tyson fight timeline and Mike Tyson’s last match explains his immense impact in the boxing world. It is over two decades now that Tyson has retired from professional boxing, but he still remains one of the most talked-about fighters.

What the Mike Tyson Boxing Career Timeline Teaches

Looking back at the full Mike Tyson boxing career timeline, you can see that his career was more than just a collection of boxing matches. It is a story of raw talent, unstoppable momentum, harsh setbacks, redemption, and enduring legacy.

Tyson’s early fights were all about dominance, whereas his comebacks reflected his resilience. The defeats showed vulnerability, but it was something that people rarely witnessed when he was in the ring. This complexity makes the Mike Tyson timeline one of the most interesting one in not just boxing but in sports history.

He showed the world what it meant to fight and not just in the ring, but also in life.

Final Thoughts

Mike Tyson boxing career timeline is a reflection of a man who had the world at his feet because of his exceptional boxing skills. The ups and downs along with the victories and controversies of Tyson’s career are all part of his legacy that still excites boxing lovers around the world.

Tyson is one of the greatest boxing legends and is seen as a symbol of strength and survival. He is real example that shows how a 20-year-old became heavyweight champion and reached the top of the boxing world with his sheer power and explosiveness.