By: Sean Crose
It was called the 90-Second Massacre. Mike Tyson, the undefeated WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight champion of the world, stepped into the ring one June night in 1988 to face the reigning heavyweight champion of the world, Michael Spinks. It was a great contest if ever there was one – a fight for all the figurative marbles. Those who remember, and even those too young to remember, know what happened after the opening bell sounded. Tyson knocked out the talented Spinks just a minute and a half into the first round. No one could argue that Tyson, now the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, was the face of boxing.
It was certainly a big moment—and remains the pinnacle of Atlantic City Boxing. Because at Convention Hall, Tyson defeated Spinks in one of the most one-sided contests boxing has ever known. However, it wasn’t the only big fight to take place in Atlantic City. Tyson defeated Tyrell Biggs, as well as fellow great Larry Holmes, in Atlantic City. Furthermore, Evander Holyfield fought George Foreman in Atlantic City. The great Roberto Duran shocked the boxing world by defeating Iran Barkley for the middleweight title in Atlantic City. Furthermore, Hector “Macho” Camacho knocked out “Sugar” Ray Leonard, the only one to retire, in a fight in Atlantic City.
Of course, not all Atlantic City fights were—or are—big events. That’s as true today as it was in December 1981, when Edwin Viruet knocked out Norman Goins in nine rounds at the Tropicana in Atlantic City. Since its first return in ’81, the Tropicana has hosted nearly 240 fights. In fact, boxing returns to the Tropicana next week when heavyweight contender Otto Wallin returns to the ring to take on Onoriode Ehwarieme in a scheduled eight-round bout. If he performs well, former world title contender Wallin could find himself back on the road to more high-profile fights.
Next week’s card, presented by Boxing Insider Promotion, There will be seven fights in total, some of which will feature emerging names like Justin Figueroa, Bruce Seldon and Jacob Solis. It’s the kind of card that showcases both established and emerging talent, a mix of the present and future of a sport that Atlantic City has long been a part of.
