Boxing News: Mike Tyson Back? Duck and Cover

WASHINGTON, DC (April 13, 2005) – The nation’s capital is abuzz with the prospect of former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world Mike Tyson (50-5 2 NC 44 KOs), still on the comeback trail, coming to town to fight in a fight called, of all things, “Redemption.”

Mike is getting it on with Kevin McBride (32-4-1 27 KOs) at the MCI Center in Washington on June 11.

Tyson has been working out in the gym in Arizona for the last three weeks. He has not fought since he blew out his knee against Danny Williams in Louisville, Kentucky last summer.

Kevin McBride is a 6’6”, 240-pound gentle giant from the Emerald Isle. He was born in Clones, Ireland, but now fights out of Brockton, Massachusetts, one-time home to boxing legends Rocky Marciano and Marvelous Marvin Hagler, so McBride has good geography. He has also won his last seven bouts by early stoppage. But Kevin’s not much of a danger to anyone but himself, unless of course he’s fighting Mike Tyson.

Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion in history in 1986 when he kayoed Trevor Berbick. He lost the title four years later to Buster Douglas. There have been some ups and a lot of downs in the past twenty years. Bad marriages. Bad management. Bad decisions. Bad behavior. And last but not least bad boxing.

At a press conference Tuesday to announce his next fight to the media, Tyson said, “I just hope these people of Washington, D.C., are prepared to handle this. It's going to be a train wreck.”

Tyson knows train wrecks. Let the rubbernecking begin.

Mike will say whatever he has to say to build the gate – he is nothing if not master of the sound bite – but for those who prefer boxing to spectacle, proceed at your own risk.

“I'm just enjoying my life and having fun participating in the sport,” Tyson told the press. “I'm just taking this one fight at a time.”

McBride has other things in mind: “I want to shock the world.” 

Tyson has seen and heard it all before. “It's a no-win situation for me,” he said. “If I knock (McBride) out in two seconds, he's a bum. If he gives me a shellacking, I'm a bum.”

From one bum to another, the long and winding road of Tyson’s erosion has made its way to DC.

“I don't get into the staredowns and the talking trash. I'm older, so I'm not really too much into that,” Tyson said. “I don't want to punch a guy in the face before the fight starts.”

Mike Tyson is getting soft and fuzzy. Sounds like his killer instinct is kaput.