This Day in Boxing History

[WESS]

July 21, 1989

Mike Tyson KOs Carl Williams in 1:33 to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.

[Scott9945]

Amir Khan was allowed to continue and this fight was stopped? What a joke. Randy Neumann is one of the worst referees in the US (with due respect to Joe Cortez).

[SBleeder]

And yet Tysontards insist he was "past his prime" at this point.

In more interesting news, on this date in 1941, Sugar Ray Robinson defeated LW champion Sammy Angott.

[taansend]

And yet Tysontards insist he was "past his prime" at this point.

Not sure whether a Tysontard is pro or against big Mike (I was a fan from the off) but he was past his prime by this point. I remember this fight well & it was one of the most beautifully thrown punches I saw live. Can still see the way Williams 'stiffened' as it landed.

But, Tyson's highest point was the win Spinks. Prior to that he used his boxing skills to set up his big punches. From that point on he neglected his (under-rated) skills & just went for the knockout. Because of his natural speed & power he got away with it most of the time but the man who prided himself on his skills forgot to use them. Arrogance got the better of him. Same thing happened to Naseem Hamed 10 years later.

So, while this was a fantastic punch against a decent opponent, in my opinion, Tyson was past his boxing prime (not his physical prime) based on his attitude & neglect of the sweet science.

You're quite entitled to disagree but I do feel he peaked the previous year.

[TBear]

Amir Khan was allowed to continue and this fight was stopped? What a joke. Randy Neumann is one of the worst referees in the US (with due respect to Joe Cortez).

I agree with you about those two calls, although I kinda like Neumann due to his long history.

[Rossman]

I thought it was a bad stoppage.