On Nov. 22, 1986, a 20-year-old powerhouse from Brownsville, Brooklyn, stepped into a Las Vegas boxing ring in Las Vegas and left with no doubt who the Baddest Man on the Planet was That night, ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson did more than just win a fight; he dismantled the veteran champion Trevor Berbick in a mere five minutes and 35 seconds to become the youngest heavyweight titleholder in the history of the sport.

"I’m the youngest heavyweight boxing champion in history," Tyson famously told his manager following the clinical performance, "and I’m going to be the oldest."

The confidence was backed by a terrifying resume. Before facing Berbick, Tyson had decimated the division, winning all 27 of his professional matches and recording 26 knockouts. 

Berbick, who was 33 at the time, made the mistake of trying to prove he could withstand Tyson’s onslaught. Rather than utilizing movement or a tactical jab, Berbick stood his ground, attempting to show the world he could absorb the best the young challenger had to offer. It was a decision he would quickly regret, later admitting that while he wanted to test his own chin, Tyson simply "punches pretty hard."

The strategy Tyson brought to the ring was far more aggressive. By the second round, the disparity in speed and power was undeniable. Tyson connected with a devastating left hook that sent Berbick to the canvas. Though the champion attempted to rise, his equilibrium was shattered. He struggled to find his footing, rising and collapsing twice more as his legs buckled beneath him.

Tyson’s reign continued through nine successful title defenses until his 1990 loss to Buster Douglas. While his later career and personal life were marked by legal turmoil—including a prison sentence for rape and the infamous 1997 ear-biting incident involving Evander Holyfield—his 1986 victory remains a landmark achievement in Black sports history.