Mitch Green, an American former professional boxer who competed from 1980 to 2005, is perhaps best known for his encounters with Mike Tyson. However, his career was marked by significant achievements long before he stepped into the ring with the future heavyweight champion. Green's journey began with a notable amateur career, showcasing his talent and potential, before transitioning to the professional ranks where he would eventually face one of boxing's
most formidable figures, leading to both a professional bout and a notorious street brawl.
Early Life and Amateur Prowess
Mitch Green grew up in the Bronx, New York, on 175th Street between Anthony and Clay Avenues. His early life was not without hardship, as he recounted being shot twice at the age of 17. The first incident involved a .22 magnum bullet passing through his right wrist, miraculously missing arteries, bones, and nerves, allowing him to return to fighting weeks later. The second time, he sustained a graze wound to the right side of his head. Ironically, these dangerous experiences led him towards the less lethal sport of boxing.
Green's amateur career was highly successful. He won the New York Golden Gloves four times, securing titles in 1976, 1977, 1979, and 1980. His amateur record boasted an impressive 64 wins and 7 losses, with 51 of his victories coming by knockout. He won the 1976 Sub-Novice Heavyweight Championship and the Heavyweight Open Championships in 1977, 1979, and 1980, defeating opponents like Anthony Zampelli, Guy Casale, Ralph Fucci, and Merlin Castellanos. He was also a two-time Intercity Golden Gloves champion. Despite a decisive cut loss in the 1978 tournament preventing a fifth Golden Gloves title, Green was considered a prospect for the 1980 Olympic Games, though the U.S. boycott and a loss to Marvis Frazier in the Olympic Trials quarterfinals curtailed that ambition.
Professional Bout Against Mike Tyson
In 1986, Mitch Green faced Mike Tyson in a professional boxing match. Green was ranked one spot ahead of Tyson in the WBC heavyweight standings, but there was a significant disparity in their purses, with Tyson guaranteed $250,000 compared to Green's $30,000. Green initially threatened to withdraw from the fight due to this discrepancy, but was persuaded to continue after being informed that a shot at the WBC heavyweight title was on the line. The fight, held on May 20, saw Green employ a strategy of frequent clinching to mitigate Tyson's power, a tactic that would be seen in later Tyson fights.
Green managed to take Tyson the full 10 rounds, a feat that few opponents achieved in Tyson's early career. However, Green offered little offensively, and Tyson won by unanimous decision with scores of 9–1, 9–1, and 8–2. Despite the loss, Green became only the second man to go the distance with an undefeated Mike Tyson, a notable achievement in itself.
The Notorious Street Brawl
Two years later, in 1988, Green and Tyson were involved in a notorious street brawl in Harlem. Green confronted Tyson at Dapper Dan's, claiming Tyson's promoter owed him money. The argument escalated into a physical confrontation where Tyson landed a punch that closed Green's left eye and caused a cut requiring five stitches. Tyson, however, fractured his right hand in the incident, leading to the postponement of his fight against Frank Bruno. A New York jury later awarded Green $45,000 in damages in a civil lawsuit against Tyson, though this sum did not cover Green's legal fees. This street fight cemented Green's place in the public consciousness, often remembered for this dramatic confrontation with the heavyweight champion.
