Mike Tyson’s twenty-eighth professional fight took place against Jose Ribalta on August 17, 1986, at the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Tyson, with an undefeated record of 27-0, was the rising star of the heavyweight division. This fight against Ribalta was expected to be a significant test, as Ribalta was known for his toughness and resilience. Let’s dive into a detailed, round-by-round account of this fight in a casual, storytelling voice.
Build-Up to the Fight
Mike Tyson was quickly becoming the most feared man in boxing. With twenty-seven straight wins, almost all by knockout, Tyson was seen as the future heavyweight champion. Jose Ribalta, a seasoned fighter with a solid record, was expected to provide a real challenge. Ribalta was known for his durability and toughness, and many thought he could give Tyson a tough fight. The atmosphere was electric as fans filled the Trump Plaza, eager to see if Tyson could continue his streak of early finishes.
Round 1: Tyson’s Aggressive Start
As the bell rang for the first round, Tyson came out of his corner with his usual intensity. Ribalta, aware of Tyson’s reputation, kept his guard high and moved cautiously around the ring. Tyson, in his low, bobbing stance, immediately went on the offensive, pressing forward with his signature aggression.
Tyson wasted no time in closing the distance. He landed a sharp left hook to Ribalta’s body, followed by a right hook to the head. Ribalta tried to keep Tyson at bay with his jab, but Tyson slipped the punches effortlessly and countered with powerful shots of his own. Tyson’s speed and power were evident as he landed a flurry of hooks and uppercuts, forcing Ribalta to cover up and retreat.
The crowd was already on its feet, cheering for Tyson’s relentless aggression. Ribalta 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 Ribalta’s head back, drawing a gasp from the audience. The bell rang, and Ribalta looked relieved to have survived the opening round.
Round 2: Ribalta’s Resilience
The second round began with Ribalta using his jab and footwork to keep Tyson at a distance. Tyson, in his usual aggressive style, kept pressing forward, looking to land big shots. Ribalta, however, was more elusive in this round, moving around the ring and using his jab effectively to disrupt Tyson’s rhythm.
Tyson landed a few hard shots to the body, but Ribalta responded with quick counters and jabs. The veteran’s experience was showing, as he was able to avoid some of Tyson’s most powerful punches. Tyson continued to press the action, but Ribalta’s movement and defense were making it difficult for him to land clean, effective punches.
The crowd was impressed with Ribalta’s ability to handle Tyson’s aggression. As the round ended, it was clear that Ribalta was not going to be an easy opponent for the young knockout artist.
Round 3: Tyson’s Persistence
As the third round commenced, Tyson came out with the same determination, ready to break through Ribalta’s defenses. Ribalta continued to use his jab and footwork to keep Tyson at bay, but Tyson’s relentless pressure was beginning to wear him down.
Tyson landed a powerful left hook to Ribalta’s body, causing him to wince in pain. Sensing an opportunity, Tyson unleashed a combination of hooks and uppercuts that had Ribalta on the defensive. Ribalta, 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 Ribalta 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. Ribalta, 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 Ribalta’s body, followed by a left hook to the head that sent Ribalta reeling.
Tyson’s combination of speed, power, and aggression was overwhelming. He landed a series of brutal hooks and uppercuts, forcing Ribalta to cover up and retreat. The referee was watching closely as Tyson continued his assault, landing punch after punch with precision and power.
Ribalta, 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 Ribalta for his resilience. The round ended with Tyson firmly in control, but Ribalta still standing.
Round 5: Ribalta’s Fight Back
As the fifth round commenced, Tyson came out determined to finish the fight. Ribalta, 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 Ribalta on the defensive.
Tyson landed a powerful right hook to Ribalta’s body, followed by a left hook to the head that sent Ribalta reeling. The referee was watching closely as Tyson moved in for the kill. He landed another series of powerful hooks to Ribalta’s head and body, but Ribalta, 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 Ribalta’s resilience allowed him to survive the round. The veteran was giving Tyson one of the toughest fights of his career so far.
Round 6: Ribalta’s Grit
The sixth round began with Ribalta showing signs of fatigue, but he continued to fight back with quick jabs and counters. Tyson, relentless as ever, kept pressing forward, landing hard shots to Ribalta’s body and head. Ribalta absorbed the punches and fought back, landing a few solid counters that caught Tyson’s attention.
Tyson’s aggression was beginning to take its toll on Ribalta, but the veteran was not backing down. He continued to move around the ring and use his jab to keep Tyson at a distance. The crowd was impressed with Ribalta’s ability to handle Tyson’s power and aggression.
As the round ended, it was clear that Ribalta was not going to be an easy opponent for Tyson. The young knockout artist was facing a real challenge, and the crowd was loving every minute of it.
Round 7: Tyson’s Pressure
As the seventh round commenced, Tyson came out with the same determination, ready to break through Ribalta’s defenses. Ribalta continued to use his jab and footwork to keep Tyson at bay, but Tyson’s relentless pressure was beginning to wear him down.
Tyson landed a powerful left hook to Ribalta’s body, causing him to wince in pain. Sensing an opportunity, Tyson unleashed a combination of hooks and uppercuts that had Ribalta on the defensive. Ribalta, 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 Ribalta 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 8: Tyson’s Power
As the eighth round began, Tyson continued to press the action. Ribalta, 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 Ribalta’s body, followed by a left hook to the head that sent Ribalta reeling.
Tyson’s combination of speed, power, and aggression was overwhelming. He landed a series of brutal hooks and uppercuts, forcing Ribalta to cover up and retreat. The referee was watching closely as Tyson continued his assault, landing punch after punch with precision and power.
Ribalta, 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 Ribalta for his resilience. The round ended with Tyson firmly in control, but Ribalta still standing.
Round 9: Tyson’s Determination
As the ninth round commenced, Tyson came out with a look of determination, ready to finish the fight. Ribalta, 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 Ribalta on the defensive.
Tyson landed a powerful right hook to Ribalta’s body, followed by a left hook to the head that sent Ribalta reeling. The referee was watching closely as Tyson moved in for the kill. He landed another series of powerful hooks to Ribalta’s head and body, but Ribalta, 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 Ribalta’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 Knockdown
The tenth round began with both fighters showing signs of fatigue but determined to finish strong. Ribalta continued to use his jab and footwork to keep Tyson at bay, but Tyson’s relentless pressure was beginning to wear him down.
Tyson landed a powerful left hook to Ribalta’s body, causing him to wince in pain. Sensing an opportunity, Tyson unleashed a combination of hooks and uppercuts that had Ribalta on the defensive. Ribalta, 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 Ribalta for his resilience and skill. Tyson kept pressing forward, landing punch after punch, and finally, Ribalta went down. The referee began the count, but Ribalta, showing incredible heart, managed to get back up and continue fighting. The round ended with Tyson firmly in control, but Ribalta still standing.
Round 11: Tyson’s Persistence
As the eleventh round commenced, Tyson came out with the same determination, ready to finish the fight. Ribalta, 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 Ribalta on the defensive.
Tyson landed a powerful right hook to Ribalta’s body, followed by a left hook to the head that sent Ribalta reeling. The referee was watching closely as Tyson moved in for the kill. He landed another series of powerful hooks to Ribalta’s head and body, but Ribalta, 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 Ribalta’s resilience allowed him to survive the round. The veteran was giving Tyson one of the toughest fights of his career so far.
Round 12: The Knockout
As the twelfth and final round began, Tyson came out with a look of determination, ready to finish the fight. Ribalta, 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 Ribalta’s body, followed by a left hook to the head that sent Ribalta crashing to the canvas.
The referee began the count as Ribalta 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 Ribalta’s head back once again. Ribalta 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 Jose Ribalta was another impressive display of his power and aggression. With twenty-eight knockout wins in his first twenty-eight professional fights, Tyson was rapidly becoming the most talked-about young boxer in the sport. His performance against Ribalta solidified his reputation as a devastating knockout artist.
For Ribalta, 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 Jose Ribalta was another significant step in Tyson’s early career. 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 destined for greatness in the heavyweight division.
