Liston’s hook, Tyson’s blitz: Five fast heavyweight title wins

A helpless Trevor Berbick lays beaten after Mike Tyson’s demolition job to become WBC heavyweight champion.

Shaun Brown

Apr 09 2025

When it comes to raw power and lights-out finishes, one weight class reigns supreme: the heavyweights. These giants aren’t just the marquee division for the massive paydays they rake in—they deliver jaw-dropping, heart-stopping endings like no other. When titans tipping the scales between 210 and 280 lbs land flush shots to the chin, someone’s almost guaranteed to hit the canvas hard.

On this day in 2016, Charles “I walk this earth like a God,” Martin learned that lesson the hard way. Anthony Joshua flattened him in just two rounds, snagging his first world heavyweight title with ruthless efficiency. But Joshua’s not the only big man to make quick work of the opposition. Boxing News brings you five other men who closed the show in less than 10 minutes.

Ingemar Johannson KO3 Floyd Patterson

Sweden’s first-ever boxing champ, Ingemar Johansson remains the only native son to seize the world heavyweight crown. Inside Yankee Stadium, fans witnessed one of boxing’s greatest upsets. With his devastating right hand—nicknamed “The Hammer of Thor”—Johansson floored Patterson repeatedly, showcasing raw power. Referee Ruby Goldstein halted the carnage at 2:03 of Round 3. Overnight, Johansson became a national hero and a global sensation.

Mike Tyson KO2 Trevor Berbick

A 20-year-old phenom, Mike Tyson, unleashed a blistering onslaught of speed, power, and ferocity. From Round 1, the challenger stalked Berbick relentlessly, hammering him with vicious hooks that left the champ reeling. At 2:35 of Round 2, more savagery sent Berbick crashing to the canvas. More than a title win, it was a coronation, crowning Tyson the youngest heavyweight champ in history at 20 years and 144 days old.

George Foreman KO2 Joe Frazier

In a brutal showcase of raw power, George Foreman seized his first world title with devastating force. The National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica, hosted “The Sunshine Showdown,” pitting the tried-and-tested champ, Joe Frazier, against an unproven but monstrous Foreman. Experience didn’t matter—the challenger unleashed carnage, flooring Frazier six times in under two rounds. The fight was stopped at 2:26 of round 2. It was one of the most lopsided title fights in heavyweight history.

Corrie Sanders TKO2 Wladimir Klitschko

A stunning upset that rocked the boxing world, Corrie Sanders delivered a lightning-fast demolition. The Pretoria southpaw, dismissed as a tune-up for WBO champ Wladimir Klitschko, flipped the script. Klitschko crumbled twice in Round 1 under Sanders’ vicious lefts, then hit the canvas twice more in Round 2. At 0:27, a final left crashed into Klitschko’s jaw, sealing the TKO. The loss reshaped Klitschko’s career, while for Sanders, it was a brief, brilliant blaze of heavyweight glory.

Sonny Liston KO1 Floyd Patterson

Swift and brutal, Sonny Liston snatched his first world title in under three minutes. The fearsome challenger wielded menacing power, a granite chin, a lethal jab, and a reputation that frightened many. In round one Liston unloaded heavy shots with ruthless intent. Barely two minutes in, a crushing left hook sent the champ sprawling. Patterson staggered up, only to crumple again. Referee Harry Krause halted the slaughter at 2:06 of Round 1—an unforgettable jolt in heavyweight history.