No 'guts', no glory for Tyson in defeat
By Dan Rafael
ESPN.com
WASHINGTON ? Now it finally appears to be over for Mike Tyson.
Once the most feared fighter alive, the so-called "Baddest Man on the Planet," Tyson is no longer that man. Not even close.
Now he appears to be nothing more than a 38-year-old pug with little to offer other than his famous name.
Unheralded Kevin McBride, who was barely seen or heard during this promotion, delivered a beating to Tyson until the former champion quit on his stool after the wild sixth round on Saturday night before 15,472 at the MCI Center.
"I do not have the guts to be in this sport anymore," Tyson said. "I don't want to disrespect the sport that I love. My heart is not into this anymore. I'm sorry for the fans who paid for this. I wish I could have done better. I want to move on with my life. It's time to move on with my life and be a father, take care of my children."
Tyson, the former two-time heavyweight champion was trying to rebound from last summer's shocking fourth-round knockout loss to Danny Williams and make one more run at the title, not to mention trying to dig himself out of bankruptcy.
Mike Tyson
(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Tyson hit the canvas in the sixth round, apparently his last as a pro fighter.
But these losses aren't so shocking anymore. Tyson (50-6) has lost three of his last four fights, including a title challenge to then-champ Lennox Lewis in 2002.
McBride, 32, from Ireland, took everything Tyson had to offer and never wavered, not even when Tyson purposely head butted him in the sixth round, ripping open a cut in the corner of McBride's left eye.
The ringside doctor examined the cut and referee Joe Cortez deducted two points from Tyson for the foul. But with blood streaking down his face, McBride went back into the battle after cursing at Tyson, who was incredibly winning on two of the three scorecards even with the deductions. He led 57-55 on two while McBride was ahead 57-55 on the other.
Tyson came out strong in the sixth, going for the knockout. McBride absorbed some heavy shots but never seemed to be in trouble.
Tyson was growing increasingly frustrated with the 271-pound McBride, who had a 38-pound weight advantage. He used it to his advantage, leaning on Tyson and tying him up whenever Tyson would try to unload.
With Tyson pinned along the ropes and McBride leaning on him, he smashed his head into McBride's face with a little more than 2 minutes left in the round.
The fight resumed after a short delay while McBride had the cut examined. When it did, McBride landed a brutal uppercut that rocked Tyson in the final 20 seconds of the round.
Right as the bell sounded Tyson went down on his backside along the ropes, but Cortez ruled it a slip. An exhausted Tyson didn't look like he wanted to get up but eventually did and slowly went back to his corner.
Moments later, the fight was over, and McBride (33-4-1, 28 KOs) and his crew were celebrating.
"This win was for the pride of Ireland," said McBride, who fought for Ireland in the 1992 Olympics. "I proved everyone wrong tonight."
Said McBride trainer Goody Petronelli, "He roughed him up and he got the better of him."
McBride had been considered nothing more than a journeyman, losing the two times he previously had stepped up in competition. He had also lost twice to sub-.500 fighters, including a third-round knockout by Michael Murray in 1998. Murray finished his career on a 1-17 skid ? the only win coming against McBride.
That's how low Tyson had sunk when it came to finding an opponent, and he couldn't even handle him.
Kevin McBride
AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais
McBride dreamed about beating Tyson. He made his dream come true.
Muhammad Ali was with Tyson in the dressing room as he had his hands wrapped but even that couldn't inspire Tyson to score one of his famous early knockouts. Nor could new trainer Jeff Fenech.
Tyson came out slow and cautious in the first round. He tried to work the body and landed some body shots but he had a hard time getting inside on the 6-foot-6 McBride, who earned just $150,000 to Tyson's $5 million.
Tyson had an excellent fourth round, storming from the corner and opening up with a powerful right and body shots. He was going for the knockout and McBride looked a little woozy. But he hung in there, even after Tyson landed another left hook and body shot.
McBride tied Tyson up and slowed his momentum. But Tyson could only muster short spurts of activity.
In the fifth, McBride trapped Tyson along the ropes and they traded toe-to-toe for the final 30 seconds of the round. But McBride got in the heavier shots, bouncing Tyson's head from side to side.
One round later, it was over. And so, it appears, is Tyson's career.
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