Mike Tyson vs. Buster Mathis Jr.
Mike Tyson vs. Buster Mathis Jr. took place on December 16, 1995, at the Spectrum in Philadelphia. Tyson had returned to boxing after a three-year prison term and had just another short win to solidify his status as the top heavyweight. Mathis Jr. was an undefeated challenger and a heavy underdog, about 25 to 1 to win.
The fight had a lengthy and uncertain buildup, with changes to the venue and TV coverage, but it ended up in Philadelphia with Fox airing Tyson’s bout. In the ring, Tyson started slowly as Mathis used movement and clinching to survive the early rounds. In the third round, Tyson landed a decisive burst of right uppercuts that dropped Mathis. He couldn’t beat the count, and Tyson won by knockout in the third round.
After the victory, Tyson’s promoter announced he would get a shot at the WBC heavyweight title against Frank Bruno in March 1996. Tyson and Bruno had met in 1989, a fight Tyson won to become the undisputed champion after Bruno had briefly rocked him; in 1996, Tyson again defeated Bruno to claim the WBC title.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 06:35 (CET).