Boxing in The 1980s - 1986

1986

• January 17- Tim Witherspoon defeats Tony Tubbs by a fifteen round decision in Atlanta, to win the WBA world Heavyweight title and become only the third boxer, after Floyd Patterson and Muhammad Ali, to become two-time world Heavyweight champions. Witherspoon-Tubbs begins Don King's Heavyweight tournament that aims to have one universally recognized world champion at the end.
• March 10- Marvin Hagler retains his undisputed world Middleweight title with an eleventh round knockout of John Mugabi, Thomas Hearns wins the NABF Middleweight title with a first round knockout of James Shuler, and Gaby Canizales wins the WBA world Bantamweight title with a seventh round knockout of Richie Sandoval, who was critically injured and almost died in the days after the fight. The three fights took place in Las Vegas.
• March 22- James Shuler dies only twelve days after fighting Thomas Hearns, in a motorcycle accident, in Pennsylvania.
• March 22- In the continuation of Don King's Heavyweight tournament, Trevor Berbick wins the WBC world title with a twelve round decision over Pinklon Thomas at Las Vegas. In the same boxing card, Carlos De León becomes the first man to be three times Cruiserweight world champion, defeating the WBC world champion Bernard Benton by decision.
• April 19- Michael Spinks retains his IBF world Heavyweight title by a fifteen round split decision over Larry Holmes in their Las Vegas rematch, to continue Don King's Heavyweight tournament.
• May 24- Wilfredo Gómez's last world title fight, when he loses his WBA world Jr. Lightweight title to Alfredo Layne, by knockout in round nine, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
• June 13- Héctor Camacho retains his WBC world Lightweight title with a twelve round split decision over fellow Puerto Rican Edwin Rosario at the Madison Square Garden, New York.
• June 23- The Triple Header: Thomas Hearns retains his WBC world Jr. Middleweight title with an eighth round knockout win against former world champion Mark Medal, Roberto Durán loses a ten round decision to Marvin Hagler's half brother Robbie Sims, and Barry McGuigan loses his WBA world Featherweight title on a fifteen round unanimous decision to Stevie Cruz.
• July 12- Evander Holyfield wins his first world title, the WBA's Cruiserweight championship, with a fifteen round decision over Dwight Muhammad Qawi.
• July 19- The fourth installment of Don King's Heavyweight tournament as Tim Witherspoon retains his WBA world title with an eleventh round knockout of Frank Bruno in London.
• September 6- Don King's Heavyweight tournament continues as Michael Spinks defeats Steffen Tangstad by a knockout in round four to retain his IBF belt, in Las Vegas.
• November 22- In the words of HBO Boxing commentator, Barry Tompkins, And we have a new era in Boxing, when Mike Tyson becomes the youngest world Heavyweight champion in history, beating Trevor Berbick by knockout in round two to take the WBC world championship as Don King's Heavyweight tournament continues in Las Vegas.
• December 12- In the next chapter of Don King's Heavyweight tournament, James Smith becomes WBA world Heavyweight champion, defeating Tim Witherspoon by knockout in round one, in New York.