Tyson to Face Tillman in Las Vegas, King Announces

Mike Tyson’s first opponent since losing the heavyweight title in February to Buster Douglas will be Henry Tillman, the last fighter to defeat Tyson before Douglas’ victory in Tokyo.

Tyson will share an outdoors heavyweight doubleheader with another former champion, George Foreman, at Caesars Palace June 16, promoter Don King announced Tuesday night. Foreman meets the first ranked opponent he has faced in his 21-bout, three-year comeback, Adilson Rodrigues of Brazil.

Tillman was 2-0 against Tyson as an amateur in 1984. Tillman, beat Tyson, then 17, twice at the U.S. Olympic boxing trials and kept him out of the Olympics. Tillman was the Olympic heavyweight champion in Los Angeles.

Tyson graduated to far greater achievements as a pro than Tillman. Tyson won his first world heavyweight title in 1986 and earned nearly $50 million in 1988. He seemed unbeatable when Douglas, a 42-1 underdog, registered one of sport’s all-time upsets with a 10th-round knockout Feb. 10.

Tillman was selected as Tyson’s first post-Douglas foe after a series of possible opponents would not agree on what King was said to be offering, about $250,000. Rejected for what King called outlandish demands were Alex Stewart, Renaldo Snipes, Greg Page and Walter Masseroni of Argentina.

Tillman, 6-3 and 220 pounds, turned pro in 1984 and had a 10-0 record, but was upset by Bert Cooper in June, 1986. In February, 1987, he dropped down to fight Evander Holyfield at cruiserweight (195 pounds) and was stopped in the seventh round.

His career seemed to bottom out in November, 1987, when he was stopped by journeyman sparring partner Duane Bonds at Las Vegas. Since then, he has fought only four times, losing a decision at Edmonton, Canada, to Willie deWit, then stopping three little-known fighters. Tillman had defeated deWit in 1984 to win the gold medal.

Tillman, 29, is 20-4, with 14 knockouts. Tyson, 23, is 37-1, with 33 knockouts.