The Scene: Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A. -- November 22, 1986. Brooklyn-born Mike Tyson, boxing’s newest sensation, entered an HBO-devised heavyweight unification tournament against Jamaican-born WBC titlist Trevor Berbick. Tyson was a prodigious force but untested; Berbick had been in with men like Muhammad Ali, Larry Holmes and Pinklon Thomas. As we join the HBO commentary team of Larry Merchant, Barry Tompkins and Sugar Ray Leonard midway through the opening round, both fighters had been swinging for the fences in an effort to establish control.
Tompkins: Another big left hook by Tyson. Mentioned this earlier but Tyson…Tyson’s punches even sound different than most heavyweights.
Leonard: That was an attempt at the uppercut by Mike Tyson. It wasn’t a clean shot.
Trevor appears to be trying to keep Tyson backing up, making him fight his fight. Tompkins: Another good left hand…by Tyson…and a right behind it and Berbick is rocked! Berbick in trouble here.
Berbick ju...
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