On November 4th, it will have been 20 years since the death of legendary trainer Cus D'Amato - a man who helped alter the future of the sport and who developed some of the greatest fighters in history. Often referred to as the Vince Lombardi of boxing, D'Amato achieved accolades for his work with Floyd Patterson (at the time, the youngest heavyweight champ at 21 years old after knocking out Archie Moore) and Jose Torres (who beat Willie Pastrano in 1965 for his light heavyweight title). However, D'Amato is best known as the savior of a 13 year old Brownsville, NY street hoodlum and creator of the most destructive fighter the heavyweight division has ever known - 'Iron' Mike Tyson; the youngest heavyweight to be crowned champ at the delicate age of 20.

Born Constantine D'Amato on January 17, 1908 in the tough Classon Point section of the Bronx in New York, he was one of eight children (all brothers) whose parents arrived in America from Italy in 1899. Raised during the Depression, in an all male environment (D'Amato's mother died when he was 4 yeas old), D'Amato wanted to be a boxer like his older brother Jerry. With his brother's gym bag slung over his shoulder, D'Amato would accompany him to the gym (St. Nicks' on 125th St.), absorbing as much knowledge as he could. But those dreams of becoming a professional prizefighter were derailed when at 12 years old, D'Amato engaged in a street fight with an adult man, which resulted in permanent blindness to D'Amato's left eye.

Nevertheless, D'Amato remained active in boxing and in 1939, co-founded the Gramercy Gym where he developed a stable of tough young boxers. One of them being Rocky Graziano, a fighter D'Amato developed as an amateur and expected to manage upon turning pro. However Graziano chose to enlist another manager, as well as a silent partner who reportedly had mob connections. The situation with Graziano was D'Amato's first taste of how bitter the sport could be and that 'stealing' fighters was a frequent and customary practice.

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27 June. Today exactly 17 years ago it was 'Once and for All' for 91 seconds. It was once that the two undefeated champions, Mike Tyson and Micheal Spinks, would meet each other to for all decide who was the true champion of that era.

After 17 years we all know the 91 second outcome of the fight that by many is considered the most defining and characteristic fight in Tysons carreer; the crowning achievement.

But many don't realize the background problems around this fight that made it harder for Tyson and thus his victory more impressive.

The performance was under difficult circumstances.
It was in this time (2 weeks before the fight) his wife Robin Givens miscarriaged their child and left Mike devastated (a pregnancy the media blamed Givens of never existing, but instead being a ploy to mislead Tyson with).
It was in this time Tysons finances by Tysons wife and mother-in-law were under investigation.
It was in this time the death of his co-manager and only remaining trust-person (Jim Jacobs) was just behind and managers, promoters and even his wife started battling and luring to sign Tyson (with Don King being at the winning end).

But more peculiar things happened on fightnight itself; when Mike was just ready to fight Butch Lewis (Spinks' promoter) came in the dressing room to examine the champion's bandages and started making noise about the hand wraps as psychological game to intimidate and throw Tyson off his game. There was another dispute over who was allowed to walk towards the ring as last fighter. Micheal Spinks insisted that he was the recognized champion and he should be the one to enter the ring as last (eventually the New Jersey Commissioner, Larry Hazard, had to intervene and insist Spinks enter the ring first). The riot took forever and Tyson got pissed.

But despite everything Mike Tyson still went on with the show and displayed a performance so brutal it would awe everyone who saw it around the world and confirm to them: the era was once and for all Mike Tyson.

Mike Tyson:"When I came into the ring I could see the fear in his face and I knew it was gonna be a first-round knockout. I hurt him with the first punch I threw. He wobbled a little, but I knew he would try to fight back. There were only two things he could do: try to get lucky or try to run around all night."

The Mike Tyson that entered the ring that night is widely believed to have been a force, that no other fighter, from any era in boxing could have matched. Mike Tyson, was truly magnificent, in a fight that will go down in history.

When a reporter after the fight today commented to Cus D'Amato that it was an easy win. 'The term is quick, not easy.' the wise old Cus (D'Amato) replied. 'This guy Mercedes came to fight, Mike did his job quickly.'

Feel free to relive this memorable moment together with many fellow Tyson fans by watching Mike Tysons amazing first pro fight serie starting with (short) footage of Tyson-Mercedes *CLICK HERE*.