Tyson made his professional debut in March 1985. With 21 months, he had won 28 fights and become a world champion

By Steven Pye for That 1980s Sports Blog

To boxing fans, Mike Tyson was a menacingly exciting presence in the heavyweight division as he made his professional debut in 1985 and worked his way towards a world title in 1986. To his opponents, he was a terrifying hurricane enveloping them and unleashing pain. Tyson won 15 fights in his first year as a professional before defeating 13 more opponents in 1986 on his way to clinching his first world title. At that stage of his career, everything came quickly. Just ask the men who faced him.

David Jaco, 11 January 1986, TKO first round

Tyson started the year in typically crushing fashion, sending David Jaco to the canvas with a stinging left hand in the opening round of their fight in New York. Tyson was all over his hapless opponent.

Tyson floored Jaco with another left but somehow he clung on for another minute before Tyson finished the job. He would be back in the ring 13 days later.

Mike Jameson, January 24 1986, TKO fifth round

Tyson’s powerful body punches and head shots looked to have taken their toll on Mike Jameson at the end of the first round. He developed a cut over his left eye in the second but was at least offered some respite when the third round was mysteriously cut to two minutes.

Jameson did well to make it to the end of the fourth after a flurry of punches put him down. But there was no escape. The referee called off the fight in the fifth, despite Jameson’s protests as he rose to his feet after another knockdown. At least he had the consolation of being the first man to take Tyson to five rounds.