Drenched in sweat (or, more likely, sprayed with a water bottle for dramatic effect), a prime Mike Tyson glared at potential pay-per-view customers from safely behind the red border of this Time magazine in June 1988.
The night this issue hit newsstands, Tyson knocked out Michael Spinks in 91 seconds, capturing all four heavyweight title belts three days before turning 22 years old.
These days, boxing's mainstream crossover moments usually involve professional internet troll Jake Paul, who (sadly) happens to be Tyson's most recent opponent in the ring. Headlines would have you believe these spectacles represent the sport's dying breaths: "Boxing's biggest name isn't even a real boxer." But pro boxing has been perceived to be in crisis for as long as it has existed. It is always dead and always alive, depending on who you ask. And while there may never be another lightning bolt that streaks across the sports world like Iron Mike in the late 80's, simple, fist-based prizefighting will be around for as long as we are.
