Arguably second only to the massively stunning upset James Douglas scored over an “invincible” Mike Tyson in February of 1990, the boxing world witnessed another seismic shock, also at heavyweight and also featuring Tyson, three decades ago today.

Evander Holyfield, who had for so long wanted to fight Tyson – the two having boxed a reportedly savage round as amateurs when both men were still in their formative years – “Finally” – got his wish on November 9th of 1996.

But Holyfield, deemed by so many to not only be past his best but also at real peril against Tyson, was given little to no chance of winning. Holyfield was 34 years of age, and he had suffered a “heart attack” in his losing fight with Michael Moorer, this in April of 1994. Since then, “The Real Deal” had been knocked out by Riddick Bowe in their third and final encounter, and Holyfield had looked distinctively average in stopping former light-heavyweight champ Bobby Czyz.

Tyson, aged 30, had won four fights on the spin after having been released from jail (Mike’s jail term of 1992 to 1995 scuppering the original November 8th, 1991 date for the Holyfield fight), and he was a whopping 25/1 betting favorite to beat Holyfield. Again, people really did fear for Holyfield’s health going into the fight that took place in Las Vegas.

But Holyfield, 32-3 with 23 knockouts, had zero fear of Tyson, and he punched out one of his career-best performances. The fight was fought at a hectic pace, with both modern greats going at it hard. Holyfield – who had sparred many rounds with dangerous banger David Tua in preparation for Tyson – took the fight to his rival. It was Tyson, though, who landed with some hurt first.

Just seconds into the fight, Tyson, who was 45-1 with 39 knockouts, rocked Holyfield with a right cross the older man was surprised by. But Holyfield’s legendary chin held up fine, and the war was on. Holyfield soon took his turn surprising Tyson, this time by tying him up and shoving him back. Evander was the physically stronger man, it seemed.

In round six of a fight that had seen after-the-bell action as well as some ferocious combination punching from Tyson, Holyfield made the fight his. Tyson suffered a cut eye; this was the result of what was ruled an accidental butt, and then, later in the red-hot session, Holyfield dropped Tyson with a left hand to the body. The crowd went nuts!

Another butt occurred in round seven, with Tyson again coming off worse for wear. Tyson actually screamed out in pain, this time as he looked at referee Mitch Halpern. After an inspection by the ringside doctor, the fight resumed. Tyson’s attacks became more frantic, with Holyfield making his rival pay with sharp, accurate counter shots. Then, near the end of the tenth round, Holyfield sent Tyson reeling across the ring with yet another hard blow to the head. Holyfield literally chased a dazed Tyson across the ring.

Tyson, stuck on the ropes and almost gone, somehow survived to the sound of the bell. Mere seconds into the eleventh round, Holyfield sealed the deal, as he blasted away with shots as an out-of-it Tyson was a veritable sitting duck. The end came with less than a minute of the round gone.

Holyfield did what he had said he would do for so long, and Tyson’s career was in serious jeopardy. Only a win in a rematch would vindicate Tyson and restore his reputation as a true great. The rematch duly came, but Tyson infamously used his teeth to get himself disqualified, this in yet another fight of his that shocked the world.

But for now, on the night of November 9th, 1996, Evander Holyfield was the baddest man on the planet!