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
Mike Tyson vs. Donovan Ruddock II Mike Tyson vs. Donovan Ruddock II Mike Tyson vs. Donovan Ruddock II, billed as "The Rematch", was a professional boxing match contested on June 28, 1991. Three months earlier, Tyson and Ruddock, who were boxing's number one and two ranked heavyweights respectively, had fought each other to determine who would next face the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion Evander Holyfield. Mike Tyson was awarded the victory via a controversial 7th-round technical knockout. After Tyson hit Ruddock with a six-punch combination, referee Richard Steele stepped in and stopped the fight despite the fact the Ruddock had not been knocked down and appeared to