Heavyweight History

Mike Tyson takes the fight to Tony Tucker in Las Vegas in 1987. "Iron Mike" won a unanimous decision to unify the major belts & solidify his claim to being the true king of the big men. In 1988 he would KO Michael Spinks for the lineal title. #Heavyweight #History #Boxing

"Iron" Mike Tyson takes the fight to Donovan "Razor" Ruddock in Las Vegas in 1991. The two big punchers gave fans back-to-back slugfests that year: Mike won by controversial 7th round TKO, and then via 12 round unanimous decision. #Heavyweight #History #Boxing #MikeTyson

James "Tut" Jackson and former world champion Jack Johnson, aka "The Galveston Giant," shake hands in 1924. They were all set to rumble in Hammond, Indiana that year, but the state governor refused to allow the bout to take place. #Heavyweight #History #Boxing #Legends

Larry Holmes takes the fight to deadly puncher Earnie Shavers in their 1979 rematch in Las Vegas. Shavers floored Holmes with a titanic right hand in the 7th round, but the defending world champ survived and went on to win by TKO in round 11. #Heavyweight #History #Boxing

World champ Jack Dempsey is flanked by sparring partners Jack Taylor (left) and Jack Thompson as "The Manassa Mauler" trained for his title defense vs Bill Brennan at Madison Square Garden in 1920. Dempsey would win by KO in round 12. #Heavyweight #History #Boxing

Jimmy Bivins and former champ Joe Louis battle in Baltimore in 1951. The legendary "Brown Bomber" won by wide decision, the last victory of his career. In his next bout he was stopped by Rocky Marciano in eight rounds and soon after retired. #Heavyweight #History #Boxing

George Foreman, circa 1970. Two-time world champion and an all-time great puncher. Devastating stoppage wins over Joe Frazier, George Chuvalo, Ken Norton, Ron Lyle, Bert Cooper, Gerry Cooney and Michael Moorer. Final record: 76-5 with 68 KOs. #Heavyweight #History #Boxing

Joe Jeannette fends off Sam Langford in Paris in 1913 in a bout for the world title as recognized by France, and in the 10th match, of at least a dozen, between these all-time greats. Langford would win by 20 round decision. #Heavyweight #History #Boxing #Legends

Former world champ Muhammad Ali peruses a 1972 fight mag with a cover article calling for an Ali vs Joe Frazier rematch. "The Greatest" had lost by 15 round decision to "Smokin' Joe" the year before in one of the all-time biggest fights. #Heavyweight #History #Boxing

Riddick Bowe and Evander Holyfield on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1993 after their 2nd duel, the famous "Fan Man" fight in Las Vegas. "Real Deal" Holyfield avenged his 1992 defeat to "Big Daddy" by 12 round majority decision. #Heavyweight #History #Boxing

European, British and Commonwealth champion Richard Dunn takes a break from training to chat with famed manager George Biddles. Dunn was preparing at the time to face undisputed world champ Muhammad Ali in 1976. Ali would win by 5th round TKO. #Heavyweight #History #Boxing

Joe Louis & Rocky Marciano trade big shots at close quarters in their pivotal 1951 duel at Madison Square Garden. "The Rock From Brockton" won by 8th round TKO to continue his climb to the top, but for Joe it was the end of the road. #Heavyweight #History #Boxing #Legends

Former three-time world champ Muhammad Ali at a demonstration in support of the plight of the Palestinian people in Chicago in 1988. Ali had long been a supporter of Palestine and had even visited Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon in 1974. #Heavyweight #History #Boxing

Former champ George Foreman and Michael Moorer pose at the press conference announcing their upcoming clash for the world title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in 1994. The 45-year-old Foreman shocked all when he scored a 10th round knockout. #Heavyweight #History #Boxing

Future world champ Joe Louis takes the fight to brave Al Ettore in Philadelphia in 1936. "The Brown Bomber" would score a 5th round knockout, Joe's second victory since suffering an upset KO defeat to Max Schmeling earlier that year. #Heavyweight #History #Boxing

Former world champ Gene Tunney, entrepreneur Bernard Gimbel (owner of Saks Fifth Avenue), Ernest Hemingway (author of The Sun Also Rises), and ring icon Jack Dempsey share a table at Jack's new Manhattan restaurant in 1935. #Heavyweight #History #Boxing #Legends #NewYork

Jersey Joe Walcott and Rocky Marciano slug it out on the cover of Boxing Life magazine in 1953. The first Rocky vs Jersey Joe duel, one of the all-time great big man battles, saw Marciano get the KO win with a vicious right hand in round 13. #Heavyweight #History #Boxing

A humbled Charles "Sonny" Liston speaks to reporters following his upset defeat to Cassius Clay in 1964. Few thought the future Muhammad Ali a serious threat to dethrone the world champ, but a cut and out-classed Liston quit after round six. #Heavyweight #History #Boxing

World champ Joe Louis sends former champ—and former conqueror—Max Schmeling tumbling to the floor in their long awaited 1938 rematch at Yankee Stadium. Over 70 000 fans saw Joe avenge his 1936 defeat to the German by devastating 1st round KO. #Heavyweight #History #Boxing

All-time great Ezzard Charles, aka "The Cincinnati Cobra," on the cover of Boxing & Wrestling magazine in 1954. Wins over Archie Moore, Joey Maxim, Joe Baksi, Jersey Joe Walcott, Lee Oma & Joe Louis, plus two wars with Rocky Marciano. #Heavyweight #History #Boxing #Legend