Mike Tyson this combination. Expectations for Tyson were extremely high, and he was the favorite to win the heavyweight unification series, a tournament designed to establish an undisputed heavyweight champion. Tyson defended his title against James Smith on March 7, 1987, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He won by unanimous decision and added Smith's World Boxing Association (WBA) title to his existing belt. "Tyson-mania" in the media was becoming rampant. He beat Pinklon Thomas in May by TKO in the sixth round. On August 1 he took the International Boxing Federation (IBF) title from Tony Tucker in a twelve round unanimous decision, with
Lennox Lewis vs. Mike Tyson made no real effort to get back up and continue fighting. Lennox Lewis is declared the winner by KO. A month later, Lewis vacated the IBF title deciding not to fight Chris Byrd, who was the mandatory challenger. The fight was named Ring Magazine Knockout of the Year for 2002. Lennox Lewis vs. Mike Tyson Lennox Lewis vs. Mike Tyson, billed as "Lewis–Tyson: Is On", was a professional boxing match that took place on June 8, 2002 at the Pyramid Arena in Memphis, Tennessee, United States, between IBF, IBO and WBC heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis and former IBF, WBA and