ALBANY, NY — A new force was unleashed in the heavyweight division last night as 18-year-old Mike Tyson thundered into the professional boxing scene, halting Hector Mercedes with a crushing first-round TKO at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center.

Though few in the modest crowd could have anticipated it, they witnessed the birth of a future legend. On the undercard of Kevin Rooney vs. Garland Wright, Tyson wasted no time introducing himself to the sport, finishing the bout in just 1 minute and 47 seconds of the opening round.

Mercedes, a fighter still searching for his first win, managed to sneak in a clean shot early, but that moment of success vanished quickly under Tyson’s ferocious pressure. The young heavyweight from New York, compact and relentless, wasted no time adjusting to the professional ranks. He marched forward with an arsenal of devastating body work and crisp uppercuts, trapping Mercedes against the ropes within the opening minute.

What followed was a savage combination — a brutal mix of speed and precision, highlighted by a left hook to the midsection that forced Mercedes to a knee. The veteran referee, Luis Rivera, counted as Mercedes motioned in surrender, choosing not to absorb more punishment.

The stoppage came officially at 1:47 of round one, marking Tyson’s debut with an emphatic statement. Though the fight was brief, it offered a glimpse of what would soon become Tyson’s trademark style: aggressive inside fighting, merciless body shots, and relentless forward pressure.

At the time, Tyson had little hype surrounding him. No television broadcast. No national attention. Just a raw, hungry teenager fighting under the lights with a mission to make noise—and he did just that. For those present, it was more than a knockout; it was the ignition of a career that would go on to reshape the heavyweight division.

Tyson’s performance turned heads among boxing insiders, setting the stage for a meteoric rise through the ranks. While it may have been only a four-round bout against a winless opponent, it was enough to show that something special had arrived.

Last night in Albany, boxing didn’t just see a win—it witnessed the launch of a storm that would soon take the sport by force. Mike Tyson was here. And he was no longer just a prospect—he was a problem.