Mike Tyson vs. Lou Savarese

Last updated

Tyson's Back
Tyson vs Savarese.jpg
Date24 June 2000
Venue Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland
Tale of the tape
Boxer Flag of the United States.svg Mike Tyson Flag of the United States.svg Lou Savarese
Nickname "Iron"
Hometown Catskill, New York, US Houston, Texas, US
Pre-fight record 47–3 (1) (41 KO) 39–3 (32 KO)
Age 33 years, 11 months 34 years, 11 months
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) 6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight 222 lb (101 kg)241+14 lb (109 kg)
Style Orthodox Orthodox
Recognition WBO
No. 1 Ranked Heavyweight
WBA
No. 4 Ranked Heavyweight [1]
IBF
No. 8 Ranked Heavyweight
Former undisputed heavyweight champion
WBC
No. 17 Ranked Heavyweight
Result
Tyson wins via 1st-round TKO

Mike Tyson vs. Lou Savarese , billed as Tyson's Back, was a professional boxing match contested on June 24, 2000. [2]

Contents

Background

Mike Tyson embarked on a comeback in 1999, marking his return to the ring after a nine-month hiatus, primarily due to a four-month prison sentence. [3] His comeback journey began with a victory on January 16, 1999, when he knocked out former world title challenger Francois Botha in the fifth round. Following this, Tyson faced former WBA Cruiserweight champion Orlin Norris, but their bout ended in a no-contest due to an accidental punch that landed after the bell. [4]

Three months later, Tyson had his first-ever fight in the United Kingdom, defeating British journeyman Julius Francis by a second-round knockout. In February 2000, Tyson announced his next opponent, fringe contender Lou Savarese. Initially slated for Milan in May, [5] the bout was postponed after Tyson reportedly needed more time to train. [6] The fight was then moved to Hampden Park in Glasgow, and rescheduled for 24 June. The decision to allow Tyson back into the United Kingdom sparked protests due to his prior rape conviction, [7] but Glasgow City Council ultimately voted 10–1 in favor of permitting the match to proceed. [8]

The fights

Undercard

The undercard saw Commonwealth heavyweight champion Danny Williams stop Craig Bowen Price in the 1st round. Adam Watt defeat Bruce Scott by 4th round stoppage to win the vacant Commonwealth cruiserweight title. [9]

Former WBC super middleweight champion Robin Reid made his return to ring to the ring after 16 months, following his split decision loss to Joe Calzaghe, against Silvio Branco. Branco would upset Reid with a unanimous decision victory.

Judah vs. Witter

Tyson's Back: Zab Judah vs. Junior Witter
Title(s) on the line IBF light welterweight title
Tale of the tape
Boxer Flag of the United States.svg Zab Judah Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Junior Witter
Nickname "Super" "The Hitter"
Hometown Brownsville, New York, U.S. Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK
Pre-fight record 23–0 (1) (17 KO) 15–0–2 (4 KO)
Age 22 years, 7 months 26 years, 3 months
Height 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) 5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Weight139+34 lb (63 kg)139+14 lb (63 kg)
Style Southpaw Orthodox
Recognition IBF
Light Welterweight Champion
Former WBF light welterweight champion
Result
Judah defeats Witter by unanimous decision

In the chief support, IBF light welterweight champion Zab Judah faced late replacement Junior Witter. [10] Judah was originally set to face British light welterweight champion (and IBF 5th ranked) Jason Rowland however he was forced to pull out after one of his pitbull terriers bit off part of his left index finger. [11]

The fight

It would prove to be an awkward fight for Judah, as Witter rarely engaged in an extended exchange of punches. The challenger would also frequently switch between fighting right-handed and left-handed, making him an elusive opponent. Judah's consistent body punching slowed Witter down, and in the fifth round, Judah caught Witter with a straight left hand that hurt Witter and sent his mouthpiece skittering across the ring.

The fight went the full 12 rounds, where Judah defeated Witter by unanimous decision. the scorecards reading 116–112, 118–111 and 118–110. [12]

Preceded by
vs. Jan Piet Bergman
Zab Judah's bouts
24 June 2000
Succeeded by
Preceded by
vs. Arv Mittoo
Junior Witter's bouts
24 June 2000
Succeeded by
vs. Steve Conway

Main Event

In the bout with Savarese, Tyson made a swift impact with a left hand that sent Savarese to the canvas. [13] Savarese managed to rise but faced a relentless onslaught from Tyson. Referee John Coyle attempted to intervene at 26 seconds, but Tyson continued to attack, even briefly taking down Coyle. Tyson's corner eventually entered the ring, and he regained his composure. The fight was declared a technical knockout victory for Tyson after only 38 seconds of action. [14] It was the second quickest fight of his career, behind only his 30-second victory over Marvis Frazier in 1986.

Aftermath

During his post-fight interview with Jim Gray of Showtime, Tyson called out Lennox Lewis, stating, "I was gonna rip his heart out. I'm the best ever. I'm the most brutal and vicious, the most ruthless champion there has ever been. No one can stop me. Lennox is a conqueror? No! He's no Alexander! I'm Alexander! I'm the best ever. I'm Sonny Liston. I'm Jack Dempsey. There's never been anyone like me. I'm from their cloth. There is no one who can match me. My style is impetuous, my defense is impregnable, and I'm just ferocious. I want your heart! I want to eat his children! Praise to Allah." [15] [16] [17]

Undercard

Confirmed bouts: [18]

Broadcasting

CountryBroadcaster
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Sky Sports
Flag of the United States.svg  United States Showtime

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Tyson</span> American boxer and media personality (born 1966)

Michael Gerard Tyson is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1985 to 2005, with a post-retirement fight in 2024. Nicknamed "Iron Mike" and "Kid Dynamite" in his early career, and later known as "the Baddest Man on the Planet", Tyson is regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time. He reigned as the undisputed world heavyweight champion from 1987 to 1990. Tyson won his first 19 professional fights by knockout, 12 of them in the first round. Claiming his first belt at 20 years, 4 months, and 22 days old, Tyson holds the record as the youngest boxer ever to win a heavyweight title. He was the first heavyweight boxer to simultaneously hold the World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Council (WBC), and International Boxing Federation (IBF) titles, as well as the only heavyweight to unify them in succession. The following year, Tyson became the lineal champion when he knocked out Michael Spinks in 91 seconds of the first round. In 1990, Tyson lost the undisputed heavyweight championship when he was knocked out by underdog Buster Douglas, making it one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evander Holyfield</span> American boxer (born 1962)

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lou Savarese</span> American boxer (born 1965)

Lou Savarese is an American former professional boxer and mixed martial artist who competed 1989 to 2013. He is from Greenwood Lake, New York. In January 1996, Savrese won IBF USBA Heavyweight title by knocking out former contender Buster Mathis Jr. in seven rounds. On April 26, 1997, he challenged for the Lineal Heavyweight Championship, and lost by a controversial split decision to the Lineal World Heavyweight Champion George Foreman. A year later on June 25, 1998, Savarese won the IBA World Heavyweight title against former Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion Buster Douglas by way of a first-round knockout. On June 24, 2000, he lost by a first-round technical knockout to former Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion Mike Tyson. On September 22, 2002, Savarese won the vacant WBO Inter-Continental Heavyweight title, by way of a fifth-round TKO against former two-time World Heavyweight Champion Tim Witherspoon. On June 30, 2007, Savarese fought former four-time World Heavyweight Champion Evander Holyfield. He fought with great heart but lost by unanimous decision to a sharp looking Holyfield. Savarese announced after the fight that he had given it his all but it wasn't good enough, and this would be his last bout.

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References

  1. "FightNews.com World Boxing Rankings". fightnews.com. FightNews.com. 12 June 2000. Archived from the original on 20 June 2000. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  2. "Mike Tyson vs. Lou Savarese". boxrec.com. BoxRec. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  3. "BOXING; Tyson Released Early From Jail for Good Behavior". The New York Times. 25 May 1999. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  4. Freeman, Mike (24 October 1999). "BOXING; In Bizarre Ending, Tyson Bout Is Declared a No Contest". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  5. "Tyson And Savarese Set May Bout In Italy". philly.com. 11 March 2000. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  6. "Tyson-Savarese fight postponed to June 24". ESPN.com Boxing. 26 April 2000. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  7. "Tyson Visa Sparks Protests". The New York Times. 19 May 2000. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  8. "Tyson Fight Protested Again". The New York Times. 18 June 2000. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  9. "British champ leads Tyson undercard". BBC. 5 June 2000. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  10. "Zab Judah vs. Junior Witter". boxrec.com. BoxRec. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  11. Bunce, Steve (2000) "Rowland aims to be on top of the world", The Independent , 19 October 2000. Retrieved 2 January 2016
  12. "BOXING; Judah Wins in Title Defense". The New York Times. 25 June 2000. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  13. Smith, Tyrone (24 June 2020). "Lou Savarese recalls Hampden bout with Mike Tyson 20 years on". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  14. Peck, Joshua (25 June 2020). "Mike Tyson beat Lou Savarese in 38 seconds despite taking drugs before". Daily Star. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  15. Reid, Alex (24 June 2022). "Mike Tyson dropped Lou Savarese with his first punch and floored the ref in 38-second win". talkSPORT. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  16. Alasdair Lamont (25 June 2000). "Anger as Tyson walks it". BBC. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  17. Chris Bushnell. "Tyson unleashes his rage on Savarese". boxingchronicle.com. Boxing Chronicle. Archived from the original on 25 January 2001. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  18. "BoxRec - event".
Preceded by Mike Tyson's bouts
24 June 2000
Succeeded by
Preceded by Lou Savarese's bouts
24 June 2000
Succeeded by
vs. Marcus Rhode