Mike Tyson Stops Carl Williams in 93-Second Controversy

Randy Neumann halted the Atlantic City title fight after one left hook, drawing protests from Williams and the crowd.

Mike Tyson crushed Carl Williams with a left hook and retained the undisputed heavyweight championship in 93 seconds at Atlantic City’s Convention Hall. The July 21, 1989 stoppage preserved Tyson’s reign but left Williams disputing referee Randy Neumann’s decision.

Tyson entered the bout holding every major championship in the division. The WBA title was being defended for the eighth time, the WBC crown for the ninth, the IBF belt for the sixth, and The Ring championship for the second. Coming off a dominant victory over Frank Bruno, Tyson was the heavyweight champion every contender wanted to beat.

Williams had earned the opportunity the hard way. The 6-foot-4 challenger was the IBF’s #1 contender after victories over Trevor Berbick and other leading heavyweights. He had also gone the distance with former champion Larry Holmes, and his height, long reach and jab were considered his best weapons against Tyson’s relentless pressure.

Promoted by Don King and televised by HBO, the championship attracted approximately 11,000 fans to Convention Hall. Tyson reportedly earned about $5 million, while Williams received roughly $1.2 million. Ringside tickets sold for $500, although the event generated a much smaller gate than Tyson’s previous blockbuster title defenses.

Williams tried to establish his jab immediately while tying Tyson up whenever the champion closed the distance. Tyson continued stalking forward, slipping punches and waiting for an opening.

That opening arrived barely more than a minute into the fight. Williams fired another left jab, Tyson slipped outside it and answered with a crushing left hook that landed flush on the jaw. Williams crashed backward to the canvas. He beat referee Randy Neumann’s count but remained unsteady as he leaned against the ropes. After asking Williams if he was able to continue and receiving no convincing response, Neumann stopped the fight at 1:33 of the opening round.

The decision immediately drew boos from the Atlantic City crowd. Williams protested the stoppage, insisting he was able to continue, and his camp unsuccessfully sought a rematch. No second meeting ever took place.

The victory improved Tyson’s championship reign with one of the quickest heavyweight title fights in history. It also became the final successful defense of his undisputed championship before Buster Douglas ended his reign in Tokyo on February 11, 1990. Although the ending remains controversial, Tyson’s explosive left hook and the disputed stoppage have kept the fight among the most discussed moments of his championship career.