Mike Tyson’s immortal punching power was evident throughout his career, but none more so than in a few exceptional circumstances.
One such instance came when Tyson demolished a New York State Boxing Hall of Famer in 38 seconds, a win widely overlooked as a solid victory. Tyson battered Lou Savarese at Hampden Park in the UK as part of his farewell tour.
Despite being passed off as a knockover at the time, Savarese is a fighter who boasts some solid performances. But because Mike demolished Lou so quickly, Savarese was dismissed as a nobody, especially in the UK.
One quick look at the Savarese record. You immediately know that Tyson’s achievement is much better than it looks on paper. As one of the 28-member New York Hall of Fame Class of 2020, the popular Savarese was formally inducted at Russo’s On The Bay in Howard Beach, New York.
Savarese was a local favorite. Born in the Bronx and from Greenwood Lake, he is a two-time New England Golden Gloves champion, having fought at Madison Square Garden. Savarese turned pro on April 30, 1989, knocking out James Smith in the fourth round of their fight in Houston.
Savarese won his first 36 pro fights, highlighted by the last of those, a seventh-round technical knockout victory over Buster Mathis, Jr. With the triumph, Savarese claimed the vacant United States Boxing Association (USBA) heavyweight title. It also set up a high-profile 1997 showdown with George Foreman in Atlantic City. In another good showing, Savarese lost a twelve-round split decision (114-113, 112-115, 110-118) for the little-regarded vacant World Boxing Union [WBU] championship.
In addition, Savarese says his opening-round knockout of former world heavyweight champion James “Buster” Douglas in 1998 for the International Boxing Association World heavyweight title is his most significant accomplishment in the ring.
“I was a big underdog in the Douglas fight,” Savarese remembered. “He had a good jab. That’s number one for me. My amateur highlight was winning my first New York Golden Gloves title [in 1985 when he stopped Jonathan Hill in the finals] in front of my fans, family, and friends.”
In addition to the IBA, Savarese also won the WBO Inter-Continental and IBA Continental championships.
Besides former world champions Douglas, Witherspoon, and Mathis Jr., Savarese defeated top contenders. They included heavyweights such as David Bostice, Lance Whitaker, and Leo Nolan.
“I fought six world champions. Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson, Foreman, Witherspoon, Douglas, and Riddick Bowe in the amateurs. Max Kellerman [formerly HBO] once said I’m from the old-school of boxing. That’s good. I love that.”
Savarese will always embody what it is to be a New York boxer. Furthermore, Mike Tyson scored a significant victory that night in Scotland, and he knows that.