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986 Mike Tyson Fight Worn Gloves vs. Reggie Gross (Lott & Hamilton Letters)
<p>"Fighting is not physical," said Mike Tyson. "It's the determination and the will in a guy." Determination and will were something that Tyson had in abundance. Often listed as 5'11.5", or 5'11", Tyson was really about 5'10", so he was almost always fighting boxers who had a height advantage over him. Tyson used his great determination and utter willpower to push himself into becoming, from 1987-90, the undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World. Presented is a marvelous opportunity to possess and display a pair of photo-matched fight worn boxing gloves from Tyson's heavyweight fight against Reggie Gross on June 13, 1986, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Tyson, only 19 years old, came into the fight with a pro record of 21-0-0, with 19 KOs. Gross, 25 years old, entered the ring with an 18-4-0 record, with 12 KOs. Tyson weighed 217 lbs., and Gross was at 215 lbs. Gross, at 6'3", held a significant height advantage. In the fight, in the middle of the 1st Round, Tyson was repeatedly pummeling Gross, as Gross covered up. Suddenly, Gross, who may have been playing possum, unleashed a flurry of punches at Tyson, including a strong shot to Tyson's head. Seemingly energized to anger by the hit, Tyson retaliated with a left hook that knocked Gross to the canvas. Gross got off the mat at the 7-count, and Tyson promptly used two left hooks to send Gross to the canvas yet again. Although Gross got up at the 8-count, referee Johnny LoBianco stopped the fight, awarding a TKO to Tyson. In 1987, Tyson defeated Trevor Berbick to become the WBA Heavyweight Champion. He won the WBC Heavyweight Championship and then on August 1, 1987, he beat Tony Tucker to hold the WBA, WBC, and IBF Heavyweight titles simultaneously. On June 27, 1988, Tyson knocked out Michael Spinks at Atlantic City's Convention Hall to add the Ring magazine Heavyweight title to his three other heavyweight crowns. In an amazing upset in 1990, Buster Douglas took Tyson's WBA, WBC, and IBF crowns. After making a ring comeback after a long prison stint, Tyson in 1996 won back both his WBA and WBC Heavyweight titles, but he started to lose some of his ability and two losses to Evander Holyfield, one in which Tyson was disqualified for biting off a part of Holyfield's ear, sent Tyson on a downward fighting trajectory from which he never came back to top fighting form. The fight worn gloves are Everlast 2808 L, red and black leather gloves. Each glove weighs approx. 7.9 ounces. The gloves come with a detailed LOA from Steve Lott, the former assistant manager of Tyson at the time of the Tyson-Gross bout. Lott had written "Gross" inside of each glove, in blue ink, to identify the fight. Also included is also a detailed LOA from Craig Hamilton, President of JO Sports, Inc. The offering also comes with a video of the fight showing Tyson wearing these gloves. The Everlast gloves show use; one has laces intact and the other has laces cut - this was done after the fight to remove the gloves. The gloves are in overall excellent condition. Anything ring worn by Tyson is very hard to find. Finding something like this, with rock solid provenance, from the prime of Tyson's career, is incredible.</p><p><strong>Photo-Match: A conclusive photo-match has been made to Getty 458762936.</strong></p>
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