I watched Mike Tyson make ‘mince meat’ of rival with frightening 15-punch combination in one of his best KOs
Mike Tyson was notorious for his frightening KOs, but boxing broadcaster Adam Smith remembers his famous night against Pinklon Thomas vividly.
Legendary heavyweight Tyson had just become the division's youngest ever world champion at the age of 20 years old, beating Trevor Berbick in 1986.
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And he was fast forging a reputation as one of the most feared heavyweights ever, as a result of his frightening punch power and style of relentless aggression.
After a decision win over James 'Bonecrusher' Smith in March 1987, 'Iron Mike' maintained his regular activity as he took on Thomas in his second world title defence in Las Vegas.
It was one of the penultimate matches in HBO's Heavyweight World Series, and it began at breakneck speed with Tyson the aggressor from the opening bell.
Tyson threatened to close the show in the opening round, as he flew out of the traps rocking his rival into the ropes before unloading another nine-punch barrage.
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But Thomas was able to survive until the bell rang, and regrouped when returning to his corner, and used his jab to get back into the contest.
Unfortunately for the challenger, it was only a matter of time until Tyson found the target again and he did so in the sixth round.
But this time the breakthrough was emphatic as he unleashed a crushing left hook which rocked Thomas' head back and changed the momentum again.
Although this time in simply stunning fashion, Tyson unloaded one of the greatest ever combinations of his career, showing cardio and strength to throw 15 punches in one onslaught.
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Thomas had no time to reply with the punches coming in at different levels, and he crashed to the canvas for the first time in his professional career.
His trainer Angelo Dundee stormed the ring to care for his fighter and the referee waved off the bout as a result.
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It was another incredible win for Tyson, and Smith recalls exactly where he was when Thomas was slayed by the new king on the block.
"In third place is a rather unique memory for me," Smith told talkSPORT when recalling his favourite five moments of Tyson's career.
"I don't think many people talk about this fight. The one I'm going to pick, though, for number three is one of his most emphatic performances.
"Watch it back, dig it up, because this was Iron Mike at his frightening best. This wasn't a journeyman. This was a really good fighter in Pinklon Thomas.
"And the way that he finished Thomas off at the end of that fight, it was about a 15/16-punch combination.
"You saw everything going in uppercuts, body shots, hooks, right hands, the whole lot. And Thomas was stopped.
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"It was savage, it was brutal and he was a world class fighter at the time.
"Pinklon was a really good fighter and Mike Tyson made mincemeat of Pinklon Thomas. And it still resonates with me."
It was another turning point for Tyson who was proving impossible to defeat at the time.
He went on to beat a who's who of big names including Larry Holmes, Tony Tucker, Frank Bruno and Michael Spinks on a dominant run.
But he was eventually beaten by James 'Buster' Douglas in 1990 in one of boxing's most famous upsets.
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Contrary to his KO win over Thomas, it was the first crack in the invicible aura that Tyson had built for himself.
Mike Tyson's ferocious public workout stuns fans and convinces many he will win by KO against Jake Paul
He will now return 37 years on from the famous night to take on Jake Paul in a surprise professional comeback fight this weekend.
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