Mike Tyson, one of the most fearsome heavyweights in boxing history, will return to the ring this fall, 19 years after his last professional fight, to face the boxer-turned-fighter. boxer. Boxer. YouTuber Jake Paul.
In 2005, ‘Iron Mike’ sadly retired from the sport when he walked away from an unannounced seat fight with Kevin McBride in Washington, DC. Although his career was winding down, Tyson’s introduction by SHOWTIME commentator Steve Albert on June 11, 2005 highlighted the lingering aura that made him ‘The Man. grandfather’. grandfather’. worst man on the planet’ in the 1980s.
“Despite the common view that Mike Tyson was shot as inattentive and undisciplined, this could be a short and painful night for Kevin McBride,” Albert commented.
At age 38, Tyson had been knocked out by England’s Danny Williams in his previous fight and had been out of the ring for 11 months, yet his presence still drew a crowd. More than 20,000 fans filled the MCI Arena hoping to witness their hero pull off a spectacular knockout in the final. McBride with a record of 32-4-1 was chosen as Tyson’s opponent despite his not so outstanding fighting history.
Tyson lost two points for a headbutt
McBride, a 32-year-old Irishman, has faced many experienced fighters and lost every time he stepped up to the plate. His record includes a loss to Michael Murray, a journeyman who ended his career with 17 losses in his last 18 fights, with his only win coming against McBride.
While McBride reportedly earned $150,000 for the fight, Tyson was paid $5 million, most of which went to his ex-wife and creditors. Tyson wasn’t the only iconic sports figure at MCI Arena that night. Muhammad Ali, battling Parkinson’s disease, visited Tyson in the locker room before the fight, when Ali’s daughter, Laila Ali, was competing in the undercard.
When the match started, Tyson soon showed success with close-range shots but had difficulty with the tactics of “big man” McBride. McBride used his size and rough tactics to frustrate Tyson, who resorted to dirty blows, including headbutts and low blows, prompting a warning from referee Joe Cortez.
In the sixth and final round of his career, a frustrated Tyson twisted McBride’s arm in an attempt to break it and headbutted him, resulting in a two-point deduction. Exhausted, Tyson was defeated by McBride and ended up on the canvas, defeated in every way.
Tyson’s career ended at the end of round six
“I realized I didn’t think I had it anymore,” Tyson admitted in a post-fight interview. “I’m just fighting to pay the bills. I’m not aggressive anymore. I’m not that animal anymore.”
Tyson’s post-boxing life has made him mature significantly. He remarried his longtime girlfriend Lakiha ‘Kiki’ Spicer, tried his hand at many different professions and even started a successful cannabis business. In 2020, at the age of 54, he returned to the ring to compete with Roy Jones Jr.
Tyson will now face Jake Paul on November 15. Despite their friendly relationship, Tyson praised Paul for sparking an interest in boxing as the UFC’s popularity skyrocketed.
“Boxing owes these guys some respect,” Tyson said in 2020. They should give them some belts because these guys make boxing come alive. Boxing is almost a sport.” This sport is dying. UFC kicked our asses and now we have these YouTube fighters with 25 million views. Boxing is making a comeback thanks to YouTube fighters.”
