Mike Tyson’s bout against Buster Mathis Jr. took place on December 16, 1995, at the CoreStates Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This fight marked Tyson’s second bout since his return to the ring after a four-year hiatus due to his imprisonment. Tyson, with a record of 42-1, was aiming to reassert his dominance, while Mathis Jr., with a record of 20-0, was determined to prove himself against a boxing legend. Let’s dive into a detailed, round-by-round account of this significant fight in a casual, storytelling voice.
Build-Up to the Fight
Mike Tyson’s return to boxing had been the talk of the sports world. After a convincing win against Peter McNeeley, Tyson was looking to continue his comeback trail. Buster Mathis Jr., the son of former heavyweight contender Buster Mathis, was an undefeated fighter with a solid record. The atmosphere in Philadelphia was electric, with fans eager to see Tyson continue his comeback and Mathis Jr. looking to make a name for himself by taking down a former champion.
Round 1: Tyson’s Aggression
The bell rang for the first round, and Tyson came out of his corner with his trademark ferocity. Mathis Jr., aware of Tyson’s power, kept his guard high and tried to use his jab to keep Tyson at a distance. Tyson, in his low, bobbing stance, immediately began to press forward, looking for openings.
Tyson wasted no time closing the distance. He slipped Mathis Jr.’s jabs effortlessly and landed a sharp left hook to Mathis Jr.’s body. Mathis Jr. responded with a few jabs and right hands, but Tyson’s head movement and quick footwork allowed him to avoid any significant damage. Tyson continued to press forward, landing a series of hard hooks and uppercuts that had Mathis Jr. on the defensive.
The crowd was already on its feet, cheering for Tyson’s relentless aggression. Mathis Jr. managed to land a few jabs, but they did little to deter Tyson, who kept pressing forward. Near the end of the round, Tyson landed a brutal right uppercut that snapped Mathis Jr.’s head back, drawing a gasp from the audience. The bell rang, and Mathis Jr. looked relieved to have survived the opening round.
Round 2: Mathis Jr.’s Resilience
The second round began with Tyson continuing his aggressive approach. He moved in quickly, slipping Mathis Jr.’s jabs and landing powerful hooks to the body and head. Mathis Jr., however, started to find his rhythm and landed a few solid jabs followed by right hands.
Mathis Jr. showed his resilience as he absorbed Tyson’s body shots and responded with quick counters. He managed to land a solid right hand that momentarily stunned Tyson. Tyson, showing his toughness, shook it off and continued to press forward. The two fighters exchanged heavy blows, with Tyson landing hooks and uppercuts while Mathis Jr. fired back with jabs and right hands.
The crowd was on its feet, cheering for both fighters—Tyson for his relentless aggression and Mathis Jr. for his resilience and skill. The round ended with both fighters having their moments, but Tyson’s pressure was starting to make a difference.
Round 3: Tyson’s Persistence
As the third round commenced, Tyson came out with the same determination, ready to break through Mathis Jr.’s defenses. Mathis Jr. continued to use his jab and quick footwork to keep Tyson at bay, but Tyson’s relentless pressure was beginning to wear him down.
Tyson landed a powerful left hook to Mathis Jr.’s body, causing him to wince in pain. Sensing an opportunity, Tyson unleashed a combination of hooks and uppercuts that had Mathis Jr. on the defensive. Mathis Jr., showing his resilience, managed to avoid getting pinned against the ropes and fought back with quick jabs and counters.
The crowd was on its feet, cheering for both fighters—Tyson for his relentless aggression and Mathis Jr. for his resilience and skill. The round ended with both fighters having their moments, but Tyson’s pressure was starting to make a difference.
Round 4: Tyson’s Dominance
The fourth round began with Tyson continuing to press the action. Mathis Jr., visibly exhausted and battered, tried to keep his distance, but Tyson’s relentless pressure left him with no room to maneuver. Tyson landed a powerful right hook to Mathis Jr.’s body, followed by a left hook to the head that sent Mathis Jr. reeling.
Tyson’s combination of speed, power, and aggression was overwhelming. He landed a series of brutal hooks and uppercuts, forcing Mathis Jr. to cover up and retreat. The referee was watching closely as Tyson continued his assault, landing punch after punch with precision and power.
Mathis Jr., showing incredible heart, continued to absorb Tyson’s punches and fight back when he could. The crowd was on its feet, cheering for both fighters—Tyson for his dominance and Mathis Jr. for his resilience. The round ended with Tyson firmly in control, but Mathis Jr. still standing.
Round 5: Mathis Jr.’s Fight Back
As the fifth round commenced, Mathis Jr. seemed to regain his composure. He used his jab effectively to keep Tyson at a distance, landing several clean shots to Tyson’s head. Tyson continued to press forward, looking for openings to land his powerful hooks and uppercuts.
Mathis Jr. showed his resilience, absorbing Tyson’s body shots and responding with quick counters. He managed to land a solid right hand that momentarily stunned Tyson. The crowd was impressed with Mathis Jr.’s ability to handle Tyson’s aggression and fight back effectively.
The round ended with both fighters having their moments, but it was clear that Mathis Jr. was not going to be an easy opponent for Tyson.
Round 6: Tyson’s Persistence
The sixth round began with Tyson intensifying his aggression. He moved in quickly, slipping Mathis Jr.’s jabs and landing powerful hooks to the body and head. Mathis Jr. tried to use his reach advantage to keep Tyson at a distance, but Tyson’s relentless pressure made it difficult for him to maintain his game plan.
Tyson landed a series of hard shots to Mathis Jr.’s body, causing him to wince in pain. Sensing an opportunity, Tyson unleashed a combination of hooks and uppercuts that had Mathis Jr. on the defensive. Mathis Jr., showing incredible heart, managed to avoid getting pinned against the ropes and fought back with quick jabs and counters.
The crowd was on its feet, cheering for both fighters—Tyson for his relentless aggression and Mathis Jr. for his resilience and skill. The round ended with Tyson firmly in control, but Mathis Jr. still standing.
Round 7: Tyson’s Power
As the seventh round commenced, Tyson came out determined to finish the fight. Mathis Jr., visibly tired but still fighting, tried to use his jab and footwork to keep Tyson at bay. Tyson, however, was relentless, landing powerful hooks and uppercuts that had Mathis Jr. on the defensive.
Tyson landed a powerful right hook to Mathis Jr.’s body, followed by a left hook to the head that sent Mathis Jr. reeling. The referee was watching closely as Tyson moved in for the kill. He landed another series of powerful hooks to Mathis Jr.’s head and body, but Mathis Jr., showing incredible heart, managed to stay on his feet.
The crowd was roaring, sensing that a knockout was imminent. Tyson kept pressing forward, landing punch after punch, but Mathis Jr.’s resilience allowed him to survive the round. The veteran was giving Tyson one of the toughest fights of his career so far.
Round 8: Tyson’s Persistence
As the eighth round commenced, Tyson came out with the same determination, ready to finish the fight. Mathis Jr., visibly tired but still fighting, tried to use his jab and footwork to keep Tyson at bay. Tyson, however, was relentless, landing powerful hooks and uppercuts that had Mathis Jr. on the defensive.
Tyson landed a powerful right hook to Mathis Jr.’s body, followed by a left hook to the head that sent Mathis Jr. reeling. The referee was watching closely as Tyson moved in for the kill. He landed another series of powerful hooks to Mathis Jr.’s head and body, but Mathis Jr., showing incredible heart, managed to stay on his feet.
The crowd was roaring, sensing that a knockout was imminent. Tyson kept pressing forward, landing punch after punch, but Mathis Jr.’s resilience allowed him to survive the round. The veteran was giving Tyson one of the toughest fights of his career so far.
Round 9: Tyson’s Final Push
As the ninth round commenced, Tyson came out with the same determination, ready to finish the fight. Mathis Jr., visibly tired but still fighting, tried to use his jab and footwork to keep Tyson at bay. Tyson, however, was relentless, landing powerful hooks and uppercuts that had Mathis Jr. on the defensive.
Tyson landed a powerful right hook to Mathis Jr.’s body, followed by a left hook to the head that sent Mathis Jr. reeling. The referee was watching closely as Tyson moved in for the kill. He landed another series of powerful hooks to Mathis Jr.’s head and body, but Mathis Jr., showing incredible heart, managed to stay on his feet.
The crowd was roaring, sensing that a knockout was imminent. Tyson kept pressing forward, landing punch after punch, but Mathis Jr.’s resilience allowed him to survive the round. The veteran was giving Tyson one of the toughest fights of his career so far.
Round 10: The Knockout
As the tenth round began, Tyson came out with a look of determination, ready to finish the fight. Mathis Jr., visibly exhausted and battered, tried to keep his distance, but Tyson’s relentless pressure left him with no room to maneuver. Tyson landed a powerful right hook to Mathis Jr.’s body, followed by a left hook to the head that sent Mathis Jr. crashing to the canvas.
The referee began the count as Mathis Jr. struggled to get up. He managed to rise at the count of eight, but he was clearly dazed and unsteady on his feet. The referee took a close look and decided to let the fight continue, much to the delight of the crowd.
Tyson wasted no time. He moved in quickly and landed a series of devastating punches—a right uppercut followed by a left hook that snapped Mathis Jr.’s head back once again. Mathis Jr. fell to the canvas for the second time, and this time it was clear that he wouldn’t be getting up. The referee waved off the fight, declaring Tyson the winner by knockout.
The Aftermath
Tyson’s victory over Buster Mathis Jr. was another impressive display of his power and aggression. With forty-three wins and thirty-seven knockouts in his first forty-four professional fights, Tyson showed the world that he was still a force to be reckoned with in the heavyweight division. His performance against Mathis Jr. solidified his reputation as a devastating knockout artist.
For Mathis Jr., the fight was a tough loss, but he had the distinction of facing a future legend. Tyson’s ability to dismantle his opponents with such ease was a testament to his training and natural talent.
Legacy of the Fight
The fight against Buster Mathis Jr. was another significant step in Tyson’s comeback. It showcased his incredible power, relentless aggression, and ability to overwhelm opponents quickly. This fight, like his previous bouts, was a clear indication that Tyson was determined to reclaim his position as the undisputed heavyweight champion.
