On September 7, 1996, under the bright lights of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Mike Tyson stepped into the ring with one goal: to add the WBA heavyweight title to his growing collection. What unfolded was less a championship fight and more a demolition job, as Tyson blasted through Bruce Seldon in just 1 minute and 49 seconds of the opening round.

The event, dubbed Liberation, was promoted by Don King Productions and headlined a Showtime Pay-Per-View broadcast that generated over one million buys. The evening was electric with anticipation, but the bout quickly turned into a one-sided affair. Seldon, the defending champion and a 22-1 underdog, barely offered resistance.

From the first bell, Tyson came forward like a man possessed. Seldon tried to hold him off with a jab, but Tyson slipped through with ease, closing distance and unleashing short, explosive punches. The first knockdown came just past the one-minute mark: a left hook that was followed by a right hand that barely connected—yet Seldon hit the canvas.

Referee Richard Steele gave a count, and Seldon beat it, but the writing was on the wall. Seconds later, Tyson landed another left hook—this one slightly more telling—and down went Seldon again. Though he rose, his legs betrayed him, and Steele waved it off.

With the win, Tyson improved to 45-1 with 39 knockouts and captured his second major title since returning from prison. It was also one of the shortest heavyweight title fights in boxing history. Tyson earned a $15 million purse for the night’s work; Seldon walked away with $5 million—and a storm of boos from the 9,511 fans in attendance, many of whom chanted accusations of a fix.

Beyond the ropes, the evening took a tragic turn. Hours after the fight, hip-hop icon Tupac Shakur was gunned down in a drive-by shooting just off the Las Vegas Strip. The event, which should’ve been remembered for Tyson’s victory, became inextricably linked to Shakur’s death six days later.

Tyson’s dominant performance positioned him for a high-stakes clash against former undisputed champion Evander Holyfield, scheduled for November. Meanwhile, the WBC title was declared vacant after Tyson relinquished it rather than face mandatory challenger Lennox Lewis, adding yet another layer to the heavyweight division’s ongoing drama.

Boxing fans were left buzzing—not by a competitive fight, but by Tyson’s raw power and the shadows cast outside the ring that night.