SunSport takes a look at that momentous day in 1986 when Tyson destroyed Trevor Berbick at the Hilton Las Vegas

THIRTY years ago today, Mike Tyson shook the world of boxing to its core by becoming the youngest ever world heavyweight champion… even though he had a dose of the clap.

Aged just 20 years and four months, in his first world title fight he completely destroyed champion Trevor Berbick in less than two rounds – and he was suffering from gonorrhea.

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Mike Tyson destroyed champion Trevor Berbick to become the youngest ever heavyweight world champion back in 1986Credit: Getty Images
This was a champion who was the last man to fight and beat “The Greatest” himself, Muhammad Ali.

Iron Mike had turned from Brooklyn Brawler to WBC belt holder. He had also become the most feared boxer on the planet.

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Mike Tyson hammers Trevor Berbick in 1986Credit: Getty Images

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Mike Tyson delivers a powerful blow to Trevor BerbickCredit: AP:Associated Press

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Tyson was feared for his amazing punching powerCredit: Revolver Films

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Berbick was blown away by Tyson’s ferocious assaultCredit: Getty Images
 

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Mike Tyson winning the world title in 1986 signalled the start of his brutal dominance at the topCredit: AP:Associated Press

However he was also a serial womaniser and he had contracted an STD.

In his 2013 autobiography, Undisputed Truth, Tyson stated: “I looked at my underpants a day before the fight and I noticed a discharge. I had the clap.

“I didn’t know if I had contracted it from a prostitute or a filthy young lady.”

He was given an antibiotic shot by a doctor.

“Because of the antibiotic shot, I was dripping like a Good Humor bar in July,” Tyson wrote.

“But I didn’t care; I was there to nail Berbick.”

Going into that fight on November 22 1986, Tyson had knocked out 25 of his 27 opponents.

Mitch Green and James Tillis were the two brawlers who somehow managed to last the 10 rounds.

Tyson floored Tillis in round four of their bout on May 3 1986, but the wily veteran held on to take it to the judges’ scorecard.

Two judges scored it 6-4 on rounds in Tyson’s favour, the other a more convincing 8-2.

Then on May 20 that same year Green was despatched on points, this time more convincingly with two judges giving Tyson nine out of the ten rounds, the other eight.

Tyson’s power was demonstrated by knocking Green’s mouthpiece out four times.

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The Sun predicted that it would be a tough night at the office for Trevor Berbick – and so it proved

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Berbick was floored in the early on in the second round, but managed to get back to his feetCredit: Getty Images
This was an age where boxers would welcome fights at short notice, and try and cram in as much action as possible. Tyson’s clash with Berbick was his 13th of that year.

The name ‘Mike Tyson’ was echoing around most of the gyms in America. His brute power, attacking stance and no-fuss attitude often has his opponents defeated before they even clambered through the ropes.

The orthodox boxer talked the talk, sure. But he ensured the main arguments were settled in the ring. He knew the job at hand, he knew how to get the pay cheques rolling in.

At a time where the sport was evolving into grand theatre, Tyson kept things simple. He wore standard black boxing gloves and black shorts and black boots.

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The look of despair was evident on Berbick’s eyes after being hammered by rising star TysonCredit: Getty Images
In the ring, he ensured things were far from “simple” for his opponents. And on that momentous night at the Las Vegas Hilton, Berbick, who was a Pentecostal Church preacher outside of the ring, saw his prayers of keeping his world title go unanswered.

It was one-way traffic from the off.

Tyson hammered Berbick with lefts and rights throughout the opening round. A quick-fire four punch combo sent “The Preacher” stumbling across the ring.

The young pretender saw his chance, and advanced menacingly towards Berbick, like a lion moving in for the kill.

The champion went into full survival mode, knowing he needed to last just 15 seconds to hear the bell – and he did.

But that simply delayed the inevitable.

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The Sun gave a double-page spread to Mike Tyson making history and signalling a new domination of the heavyweight division

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Tyson had knocked out 25 of his first 27 opponents going into the Berbick fight – and was the favourite for the titleCredit: Getty Images
Berbick was slow off his stool as the bell sounded to start the second round. Tyson was straight in for the kill.

A huge right hook followed by a clubbing left, and Berbick was on the ropes. As he moved back to the centre of the ring, one more shuddering shot from Iron Mike sent him down.

But showing the heart of a champion Berbick stood up to face further onslaught.

A right to the body followed by a left hook saw Berbick’s legs turn to jelly, and down he went.

The sheer power of Tyson’s punches were shown perfectly as the older man attempted to get back to his feet twice, collapsing back to the canvas both times, before the referee waved it off.

Despite his ferocious, untamed aggression in the ring, Tyson’s softer side came through, albeit briefly, as he offered some words of encouragement to Berbick after he stumbled back to his corner.

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Briton Frank Bruno called out Mike Tyson in a bid to stop his domination – but was knocked out in the fifth round when they did fight
But Berbick won’t have heard what was said – his head was still spinning after being hit with bombs that would light up the heavyweight division for years to come.

It was later revealed Tyson went into the fight with venereal disease.

Iron Mike admitted that during the fight, his manhood was agonisingly painful with gonorrhea.

“It was my best fight,” said Tyson afterwards. “I was so intense. I was out for blood. I refused to be beat. I couldn’t be denied tonight.”

Tyson however ended up wasting his talent as his career went off the rails.

He was jailed for six years for the rape of then-18-year-old beauty pageant contestant Desiree Washington in 1992.

After serving half of his jail term, he returned to the ring. Sadly the heavyweight division had changed – but Tyson’s zero-defence stance had not.

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Tyson was convicted of rape in 1992 and served three years of a six-year sentence before makijng a boxing comebackCredit: AP:Associated Press

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Tyson, pictured here with The Hangover actor Bradley Cooper, has carved an acting career out for himselfCredit: AP

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Tyson has also appeared in the film Entourage, as he remains very much in the public eyeCredit: Splash News
He was KOd by Evander Holyfield in 1996, and the rematch saw him lose huge respect in the boxing world when he was disqualified after BITING part of Holyfield’s ear off.

Three losses in his last four fights, two of which were against Britons Lennox Lewis and Danny Williams, meant Tyson’s career ended with a whimper.

Despite a move into film and television, the name Mike Tyson will always be remembered for igniting the sport of boxing.

Tyson put the X factor into the sport. The name became feared throughout the heavyweight division, with many fighters knowing all they could hope for against Brooklyn beats was landing a lucky knockout punch.

But try as many did, just like Berbick in 1986, there was only likely to be one winner.

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