Boxing

Tyson's latest may be last gasp

WASHINGTON - Mike Tyson came to the nation's capital promising a train wreck. His fans, and creditors, can only hope Tyson is not strewn across the tracks when it occurs.

Aging and deeply in debt, Tyson begins the latest version of his ongoing comeback tonight when he meets an Irish heavyweight of little note in a fight that's officially scheduled for 10 rounds but has little chance of lasting that long.

It's Tyson's fifth comeback attempt since getting out of prison in 1995.

This opponent's name is Kevin McBride, though that matters little to anyone outside McBride's family even while he enters the ring for the biggest fight of his lackluster career.

Tyson, as usual, is the attraction, but this time the stakes are higher than usual. Another loss to a middling fighter and even Tyson's diehard fans may have to start admitting that the soon-to-be 39-year-old is done.

"It seems to me a loss (tonight) ends his career," said Rock Newman, who guided Riddick Bowe to a heavyweight title and is helping promote this fight. "It would be over."

Tyson himself seems to realize time may be running short as he enters the ring for the first time since similarly unheralded Danny Williams stopped him in the fourth round July 30 in Louisville. Tyson claims he is a new man after giving up drugs, beginning counseling and training as if he really wants to fight.

The new Tyson, he says, is ashamed about some of his past, wants to win the heavyweight title again and believes he can dominate as he used to.

"It will take time," said Tyson, who arguably hasn't beaten a top-notch fighter since his win over Razor Ruddock 14 years ago. "I'm not going to become Iron Mike overnight. But there's no reason to be in the business unless you want to win a title."

Tyson is a heavy favorite in the fight (Showtime pay-per-view), which is expected to draw a near-capacity crowd to the MCI Center. But he was a heavy favorite against Williams, too, and faded badly before quitting on the canvas with what turned out to be a cartilage tear in his knee.

The loss was the second in three fights for Tyson, who is not able to intimidate fighters the way he did in his prime.

"It's more embarrassing losing to a contender of his stature," Tyson said, referring to Williams. "I was pretty depressed for a while."

Tyson has seemed anything but depressed this week, joking with fans and reporters and soaking up the adulation of fans.

It was in sharp contrast to his fight two years ago against Clifford Etienne, when he didn't train the last few weeks before the bout and then disappeared to get a bizarre facial tattoo.

[Last modified June 11, 2005, 00:26:12]