Mike Tyson left opponent’s face disfigured with earth-shattering punch to score frightening 40-second KO
Mike Tyson left his opponents in a bad way throughout his career, but none more than Michael Johnson.
The power-punching legend achieved it all in his stellar boxing career, winning Junior Olympic gold medals in 1981 and 1982, before going on to become undisputed heavyweight champion in the professional ranks.
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His most notorious record came as he became the youngest-ever world champion in the division at the age of just 20.
A year prior to his record-breaking WBC title win over Trevor Berbick in 1986, Tyson took on domestic rival Johnson in September 1985.
'Iron Mike' was on a seven-fight win streak since his professional debut and was earning huge plaudits around the world.
But as he stepped out into the ring against the 11-5 star, his reputation went on to shoot into a new frightening stratosphere.
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The opening bell sounded and the ferocious puncher burst out the traps, dropping his opponent with a vicious left hook to the body in just seconds.
Johnson was able to rise to his feet after the referee began counting and the fight continued, but he was already on borrowed time.
As soon as he beat the count, Tyson capitalised on his opportunity and landed a booming right hand flush on the helpless Johnson.
It connected with his jaw and left him crumpled on the canvas, with the referee immediately waving off the contest.
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Johnson received treatment on his stool, where it was confirmed that the punch had fractured his jaw and dislodged two of his front teeth.
It was a real defining statement of Tyson's power in Atlantic City, and fired another warning that he was one of the most powerful punchers to have graced the squared circle.
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The year he fought his fellow American turned out to be a 15-fight year which set him on course for a world title charge.
After winning the title with a stunning KO of Berbick, Tyson went on to reach undisputed status from 1987 to 1990.
He fought some of the greatest fighters of a generation during his stint including Lennox Lewis, Larry Holmes and Frank Bruno.
Sadly he lost three of his last four fights in the final stages of his time in the ring, before electing to call it a day following his loss to Kevin McBride in 2005.
It was not the end of the champion's boxing journey however, as he stepped in to face Roy Jones Jr in a money-spinning exhibition in 2020.
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He then signed on the dotted line to face YouTube star Jake Paul in a showdown under professional rules at the age of 58.
But it has since been shelved, after Tyson suffered an 'ulcer flare up' and is unfit to step back in the ring.
He has been victim of several medical issues since calling time on his career including suffering with sciatica.
But his legacy will always remain as one of the most powerful and dynamic athletes to ever grace sport as a whole.
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