How Iron Mike made the Jersey Shore his personal proving ground—and never lost
Atlantic City wasn’t just another stop on Mike Tyson’s tour of destruction. It was his second home.
Between June 1985 and December 1990, Mike Tyson fought 13 times in Atlantic City—more than any other location outside of New York. His record there? A perfect 13-0, with all 13 victories coming by knockout. No other city witnessed more of Tyson’s devastating prime than the Jersey Shore.
From his earliest professional bouts at the Atlantis Hotel to the 91-second demolition of Michael Spinks at Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City provided the stage for some of the most memorable moments in heavyweight history. This is the complete story of Mike Tyson’s Atlantic City legacy.
The Early Days: 1985 (6 Fights)
Before the world knew the name Mike Tyson, he was building his knockout streak in Atlantic City’s casino venues. In 1985 alone, Tyson fought six times there—all first or second-round knockouts.
Fight #1: Ricardo Spain – June 20, 1985
Venue: Resorts International | Result: TKO, Round 1 (0:39)
Tyson’s Atlantic City debut came just three months into his professional career. Spain lasted 39 seconds. The 18-year-old from Brownsville was already showing the explosive combination of speed and power that would terrorize the heavyweight division.
Fight #2: John Alderson – July 11, 1985
Venue: Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino | Result: TKO, Round 2
Tyson’s first fight at a Trump property. Alderson survived the first round but couldn’t escape the second. This was Tyson’s introduction to the venues that would host his biggest fights.
Fight #3: Lorenzo Canady – August 15, 1985
Venue: Resorts International | Result: TKO, Round 1
Another first-round destruction. Canady, like so many others, simply couldn’t handle the ferocity coming at him. Tyson was developing his signature peek-a-boo style, slipping punches and countering with devastating effect.
Fight #4: Michael Johnson – September 5, 1985
Venue: Atlantis Hotel & Casino | Result: KO, Round 1 (0:39)
One of Tyson’s quickest knockouts to date. Johnson went down from a left hook, got up, and was immediately finished with a right hand. The fight lasted exactly 39 seconds—matching his Atlantic City debut.
Fight #5: Donnie Long – October 9, 1985
Venue: Trump Casino Hotel | Result: KO, Round 1
The knockouts were becoming routine. Long became the fifth consecutive Atlantic City opponent to fall in the first round. Tyson was now 9-0, all by knockout, and the boxing world was starting to pay attention.
Fight #6: Robert Colay – October 25, 1985
Venue: Atlantis Hotel & Casino | Result: KO, Round 1
Tyson closed out 1985’s Atlantic City campaign with his sixth knockout in the city. In five months, he had fought six times in Atlantic City without seeing a third round. The young heavyweight was building toward something special.
Rising Star: 1986-1987 (3 Fights)
Fight #7: Mike Jameson – January 24, 1986
Venue: Trump Plaza Hotel | Result: TKO, Round 5
Jameson lasted longer than most—five rounds—but the result was never in doubt. Tyson was now being groomed for a title shot, and Atlantic City remained a key part of his development.
Fight #8: José Ribalta – August 17, 1986
Venue: Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino | Result: TKO, Round 10
This was different. Ribalta, a tough Cuban heavyweight, gave Tyson one of the most difficult fights of his early career. The bout went 10 rounds—the longest of Tyson’s career at that point.
Ribalta landed body shots that made Tyson uncomfortable for hours after the fight. Years later, Tyson admitted: “I hit Jose Ribalta with everything, and he took everything and kept coming back for more. I never felt that much general pain again.”
Tyson knocked Ribalta down three times—in rounds 2, 8, and 10—before the referee finally stopped it. The fight proved Iron Mike could take punishment and keep coming.
Fight #9: Tyrell Biggs – October 16, 1987
Venue: Boardwalk Hall (Convention Hall) | Result: TKO, Round 7
By October 1987, Tyson was the unified WBA, WBC, and IBF heavyweight champion. His opponent was Tyrell Biggs, the 1984 Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist.
There was bad blood. The two had clashed as amateurs, and Tyson felt disrespected. He later admitted he wanted to punish Biggs rather than end it quickly: “I could have knocked him out in the third round, but I wanted to hurt him.”
Tyson battered Biggs for seven rounds before the referee stopped it. It was a systematic destruction that sent a message to the heavyweight division.
The Championship Showcase: 1988-1989 (3 Fights)
Fight #10: Larry Holmes – January 22, 1988
Venue: Boardwalk Hall | Result: TKO, Round 4 | Stakes: WBA, WBC, IBF Heavyweight Titles
This was the night Tyson destroyed a legend.
Larry Holmes wasn’t just any former champion. He had held the heavyweight title for over seven years, defending it 20 times. He had beaten Muhammad Ali. His jab was considered one of the best in boxing history. At 38, Holmes came out of retirement for a $3 million payday and a shot at reclaiming his throne.
Muhammad Ali himself sat ringside—a detail that wasn’t lost on Tyson. Years earlier, a young Tyson had watched Ali get battered by Holmes at Caesars Palace. Many believed Tyson wanted revenge for his idol.
From the opening bell, Holmes tried to use his legendary jab to keep Tyson at distance. It didn’t work. By round four, Tyson had Holmes figured out.
A vicious combination sent Holmes to the canvas for the first time in his 75-fight career. Holmes got up, but Tyson wasn’t finished. Another flurry put him down again. And then again.
Three knockdowns in one round. The referee had seen enough.
“Tyson is a lot better than I thought,” Holmes admitted afterward. “A lot better. Tyson is the true champion.”
Fight #11: Michael Spinks – June 27, 1988
Venue: Boardwalk Hall | Result: KO, Round 1 (91 seconds) | Stakes: Undisputed Heavyweight Championship
No fight in Atlantic City’s history—perhaps no fight in boxing history—carried more anticipation.
The Stakes: Both fighters were undefeated. Tyson was 34-0. Spinks was 31-0. Tyson held the WBA, WBC, and IBF titles. Spinks held the lineal championship and Ring Magazine title. The question was simple: Who was the real heavyweight champion of the world?
Complete Mike Tyson Atlantic City Fight Record
| # | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | June 20, 1985 | Ricardo Spain | Resorts International | TKO | R1 (0:39) |
| #2 | July 11, 1985 | John Alderson | Trump Plaza | TKO | R2 |
| #11 | June 27, 1988 | Michael Spinks | Boardwalk Hall | KO | R1 (91 sec) |
| #13 | Dec 8, 1990 | Alex Stewart | Boardwalk Hall | TKO | R1 (2:27) |
Atlantic City Record: 13-0, 13 KOs (100% knockout rate)
Mike Tyson’s Atlantic City Legacy
Mike Tyson fought more times in Atlantic City than any other location outside of his native New York. His 13 fights there produced:
- 13 wins (perfect record)
- 13 knockouts (100% KO rate)
- 3 heavyweight title defenses (Holmes, Spinks, Williams)
- Combined time in championship fights: Under 8 minutes
- Largest live gate in AC history: $12.3 million (Spinks fight)
- Record attendance: 21,785 (Spinks fight)
Today, Tyson is enshrined in the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame as part of its inaugural 2017 class. His dominance during the late 1980s helped cement Atlantic City’s reputation as the “Boxing Capital of the World”—a legacy that fighters like Jaron Ennis are working to revive today.
For anyone who wants to understand Mike Tyson at his peak, start with his Atlantic City fights. All 13 of them. This is where Iron Mike became a legend.
Mike Tyson was inducted into the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame in 2017 as part of the organization’s inaugural class.
