During a news conference yesterday announcing former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson's June 11 fight against journeyman Kevin McBride at MCI Center, promoter Rock Newman told a modest crowd at the Lincoln Theater, "Let it be known that Mike Tyson, the main attraction, was in the house 30 minutes early."
Many boxing enthusiasts in the District would suggest Tyson arrived here three years too late -- promoters tried to stage his June 2002 fight against Lennox Lewis at MCI Center but the deal fell apart -- and many, many years past his prime. Tyson, 38, hasn't fought since he was knocked out by British heavyweight Danny Williams in Louisville last July 30, the second loss in three bouts for the former "Baddest Man on the Planet."
Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson will fight Kevin McBride on June 11 at the MCI Center. The 6-foot-6 McBride, a journeyman from Ireland, is 32-4-1 with 27 knockouts.
(Luke Frazza - AFP/Getty Images)
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Meantime, former heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe has been granted a license by the D.C. Boxing and Wrestling Commision, and he also wants to fight on June 11, according to sources close to the commission. The commission met last night and is trying to get Bowe's fight against an undetermined opponent on the Tyson undercard, but Newman, Bowe's former manager, is reluctant to include Bowe on the event.
Tyson (50-5, 44 knockouts) hasn't held a heavyweight belt since he was knocked out by Evander Holyfield in November 1996. After biting Holyfield's ears in a June 1997 rematch, Tyson has fought for a title belt only once -- he was knocked out by Lewis in the eighth round in Memphis nearly three years ago.
"I just hope these people of Washington, D.C., are prepared to handle this," Tyson said yesterday. "It's going to be a train wreck."
Tyson's life has turned into a train wreck since he lost to Lewis. After earning more than $300 million during the prime of his career, Tyson is more than $30 million in debt after declaring bankruptcy last year. The loss to Williams -- Tyson's first fight in 17 months -- was his first loss in a non-title bout and further damaged his appeal at the ticket windows.
Still, Newman called Tyson's upcoming bout "the largest boxing attraction in history to ever come to D.C." Tickets go on sale Friday and range from $50 to $700.
"I feel like Denzel Washington when he won the Oscar," said promoter Marty Wynn, CEO of Raging Bull Productions. "It just doesn't get any bigger than Mike Tyson."
Tyson appeared at the news conference with three of his children -- he called himself "Mr. Mom" -- and his ex-wife, Monica Turner, was sitting in the audience. Tyson has been training in Phoenix for more than two weeks and says his left knee, which required surgery to repair torn ligaments after his loss to Williams, is holding up fine. But Tyson admitted sinking into depression after his last loss.
"I was in that little square box room, and I was on crutches, and it was a very depressing atmosphere," he said. "I just fell into deep depression. Once the painkillers wore off, it was horrific. I didn't know what to do. I was just like a spoiled brat."
McBride (32-4-1, 27 knockouts) has won his last seven bouts but hasn't faced a fighter as menacing as Tyson. McBride, an Irishman who lives in Brockton, Mass., turns 32 next month and is seven inches taller than his 5-foot-11 opponent. His manager, Rich Cappiello, predicted a knockout in the Showtime pay-per-view bout.
"I think Mike Tyson is going to get knocked out in five rounds," Cappiello said. "He had his day but his day is gone. We're going to stop Mike Tyson and hopefully end his career."
