October 2, 1980, saw 38-year-old Muhammad Ali step into the ring for one of his final bouts against his former sparring partner, Larry Holmes. This fight brought tears to the eyes of everyone present: a helpless and already frail Ali endured brutal blows.
It was frightening to witness the legend in such a state. Parkinson's disease had already affected Ali's stamina, reflexes, and speed.
"He could no longer float like a butterfly or sting like a bee," - news headlines quoted after the event.
Ali's trainer, Angelo Dundee, made the decision to stop the fight during the break, ending the nightmare.
But that's not the end of the story.
Tyson, then 14, watched the fight live on TV with his trainer, Cus D’Amato. He was crushed to see his idol losing the fight in that manner.
“Cus had wanted me to beat him so bad. I was offended by how bad he beat up Ali,” Tyson recalled. “He said to Ali, ‘I have this young black kid who is going to be heavyweight champion someday, and I want you to talk to him.’”
D’Amato then handed the phone over to Tyson, who made a promise to the boxing legend.
FULL STORY and FIGHT:
"The next morning they talked. They were talking on the phone and Cus was mad, they lost. And then all of a sudden he said, "Hold it. I got a 14-year-old kid, a black kid here. He's gonna be the champ of the world. Tell him to listen to me. Okay? Tell him to listen to me. Okay?" But I'm crying while he said it. "When I get big, I'm gonna get him for you. When I get big. Not when I'm a champion, when I'm a top fighter. When I get big." 'Cause I'm only 14. "When I get big." And I'm saying, "When I get big, I'm gonna get him for you." - Mike Tyson
In the world of boxing, time passed, and from that little 14-year-old boy grew a true knockout blacksmith known as 'Iron Mike.' He smoothly conquered the world of boxing and by the end of the 1980s had become recognized as the best boxer regardless of weight class.
Cus D'Amato was no longer alive when this happened, but his spirit lived on in every move of Iron Mike.
At the same time, Larry Holmes was already an aging boxer who had suffered two consecutive losses. At 39, he was far from his peak, much like Muhammad Ali once was when ending his great career.
Tyson never forgot the promise he made to his idol.
Larry, perhaps too confident in his abilities, ruthlessly criticized the young Tyson.
In January 1988, the stage was finally set for their meeting in the ring.
Our hero entered the ring adorned with belts, a determined gaze, ready to dismantle his opponent. Suddenly, just before the bout began, Muhammad Ali appeared in the ring. He approached Mike Tyson slowly and whispered those legendary words: "Remember what you said, get him for me." Tyson nodded humbly.
These words were enough to set Tyson off like a cannonball. He was sure to showcase his boxing prowess from the get-go and dominated most of the first three rounds despite Holmes trying to slow him down.
In the fourth round, Tyson sent Holmes to the canvas three times, and on the fourth, Holmes didn't get back up.
Now, 36 years later, Tyson vs. Holmes remains one of the most sensational fights in boxing history, not only as a spectacle of Tyson’s pugilistic prowess but also a reminder of the vow to one of the greatest boxers of all time.
