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An amateur Mike Tyson gave the professional ranks a taste of things to come with one epic knockout.

Heavyweight legend 'Iron Mike' enjoyed a stellar boxing career, having achieved it all at professional level before retiring in 2005, having reigned as undisputed world champion from 1987 to 1990.

Tyson left his rival flat on his back with a monstrous KO
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Tyson left his rival flat on his back with a monstrous KO

And his credentials were certainly proven at amateur level, where he won a gold medal at the 1981 Junior Olympics in the heavyweight division.

In the final, the heavy-handed American made a statement like no other with the landmark event lasting just eight seconds against rival Joe Cortez.

Tyson quickly burst out from his corner with just one intention, and began loading up some vicious shots.

But after just eight seconds with Cortez clearly way out of his depth, Tyson - just 15 years old at the time - landed a crushing right-left combination which sent his opponent crumpling to the canvas.

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Cortez was left flat on his back out cold, and the referee immediately waved off the fight while seeking medical attention for the silver medallist.

Tyson's quickfire KO came as no surprise, with the amateur champion seen as one of the most dynamic punchers to have come through at the time.

He went on to win another gold medal at the 1982 version of the tournament, before making the step to the professional ranks with a huge reputation.

He missed out on the 1984 Olympic Games, but made up for the heartache with a glittering career as a pro.

Tyson garnered a fearsome reputation in his amateur career
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Tyson garnered a fearsome reputation in his amateur careerCredit: Getty Images - Getty
In 1986 he became the youngest heavyweight champion in history when he beat Berbick
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In 1986 he became the youngest heavyweight champion in history when he beat BerbickCredit: Getty

He quickly went from strength to strength, demolishing rivals with ease on his rise to becoming the youngest ever heavyweight world champion aged 20, when he beat Trevor Berbick with another thumping KO in November 1986.

The feared puncher went on to share the rings with some greats, including Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield whom he lost to, while he beat other names like Larry Holmes and Michael Spinks in a stint that saw him go down as one of the greatest of all-time.

He eventually hung up his gloves in 2005, admitting he no longer had the desire to fight on.

Mike Tyson urged to cancel fight with Jake Paul after new training video leaves boxing fans divided

However, in 2020 he returned to face Roy Jones Jr in an exhibition and is now training for another fight, against Jake Paul in July.

Surprisingly the contest has been sanctioned as a professional fight, despite the 31-year age gap between the pair.

Tyson has been posting a series of training clips to justify to fans his return at age 58, but the public have still urged the pair to cancel the showdown.

He has also received a host of medical warnings from doctors over his health if he receives punches as a veteran, but has ignored them to pursue a contest which will count on his record.

Veteran boxing promoter Frank Warren recently expressed his disappointment to talkSPORT that the fight has been sanctioned as a professional bout.

He said: "Let's get it right, Mike Tyson is 58 years of age and he shouldn't be fighting. It's as simple as that.

"If it was an exhibition, you'd get half away with that, but the fact that Texas have licenced the 58-year-old to fight.

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"What does anybody need to say about that? Anyone with an ounce of brains knows that it is ridiculous...

"Let's get it right, you can be on a motorway stuck in a traffic jam and you get to the end of it and all it is is people who have stopped to look at a crash and that's what this is."

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