Mike Tyson Reveals Which Heavyweight Punch Left Him Completely Numb
Mike Tyson was once famed for his incredible speed and power in the boxing ring. In 1986, he became the youngest fighter ever to claim a world heavyweight title, defeating Trevor Berbick for the WBC belt in only his 28th fight at just 20 years and 145 days old.
Tyson went on to win the WBA heavyweight title against James ‘Bonecrusher’ Smith and then captured the IBF belt by beating Tony Tucker, becoming the undisputed champion at only 21 years of age.
Mike Tyson’s Legendary Boxing Career
Tyson competed during a golden era of heavyweight boxing, facing some of the toughest opponents, including Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, and Larry Holmes. A streak of 19 consecutive knockouts marked the explosive start to his career, establishing the Brooklyn-born fighter as a dominant force—until a shocking defeat by James ‘Buster’ Douglas in Tokyo.
Despite suffering knockouts from Douglas, Lewis, and Danny Williams, Tyson revealed that one opponent hit him harder than anyone else: Canadian Donovan ‘Razor’ Ruddock. Over two fights totaling 19 rounds, Ruddock’s powerful punches left Tyson feeling “numb,” a testament to the Canadian’s famously heavy hands.
In an interview with CNN, Tyson recalled:
“Yes, Ray Ruddock … You’re talking about when you were like whoa. When you get hit, it doesn’t hurt anymore. It’s just numb. You just hear the bell ringing — bong.”
Ruddock, born in Jamaica, had a series of notable knockouts, including a memorable victory over Michael Dokes. A crushing haymaker left Dokes motionless on the ropes before Ruddock landed two devastating left hooks to finish him off. Ruddock claimed the WBA intercontinental championship that night and later added the IBC heavyweight title in 1992 by defeating Phil Jackson in Cleveland.
Tyson’s Recent Comebacks & Future Fights
Tyson briefly returned to the ring last November in an exhibition bout against YouTuber Jake Paul at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Paul won by unanimous decision after eight rounds. However, Iron Mike is set to fight again in spring 2026, this time in another exhibition against Floyd Mayweather Jr., with the venue yet to be announced.
While Tyson no longer faces fighters with the raw power of Ruddock, he enjoys semi-retirement and focuses on his business, Carma HoldCo, which specializes in cannabis products and advocates for marijuana legalization. Despite this, the allure of the big fight night remains strong, and boxing hasn’t yet seen the final chapter of Iron Mike Tyson.
