Mike Tyson begins training in Gifford

The former heavyweight champion has begun training at a world-renowned facility in Gifford.
By Kevin Van Brimmer


VERO BEACH — Three weeks after telling the New York Post he may never box again, Mike Tyson is back in training in Vero Beach.

World-class trainer Buddy McGirt confirmed Thursday the former heavyweight champion had moved to town and began workouts at McGirt's Elite Boxing facility in Gifford.

"Mike is in town and he's training to get back in shape," McGirt said.

Tyson could not be reached for comment.

McGirt said he did not know if Tyson had a bout scheduled. Tyson was rumored to have a fight scheduled for March, but that timetable does not appear feasible and McGirt said he expected Tyson to be in Vero Beach "for a couple of months."

Tyson, 38, registered as a sex offender with the Indian River County Sheriff's Office on Monday, which he is required to do after being convicted in February 1992 for the 1991 rape of Desiree Washington in Indianapolis.

Washington, an 18-year-old contestant in the 1991 Miss Black America contest, said Tyson forced her to have intercourse with him in his hotel room on July 19, 1991.

Tyson served three years in prison.

"Mike registered (with the Sheriff's Office) earlier this week. He knows he has to do it," McGirt said. "He reminded everyone that he had to. He wanted to get it out of the way before he started training."

Tyson's registration form listed an address in the 1800 block of State Road A1A in the Riomar area, and the Sheriff's Office planned to visit the location and confirm the address Thursday night, said Detective Thom Raulens.

The information will get forwarded to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which will list him on its Web site of registered sex offenders.

The Sheriff's Office will include Tyson's photo, address and offender status on a scrolling list of registered sex offenders and predators that airs on a government cable TV channel in Indian River County, Raulens said.

Tyson has a professional boxing record of 50-5 with two no-contests and 44 knockouts. He was knocked out in the fourth round by unheralded Englishman Danny Williams in his last bout, on July 30, 2004, in Louisville, Ky.

In 1986, Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion in history when, at age 20, he knocked out Trevor Berbick to win the WBC belt.

His career continued to rise from there and he held all three major heavyweight titles — the WBC, IBF and WBA — at one time to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.

In 1990, James "Buster" Douglas shocked the world by knocking Tyson out in Tokyo.

In recent years, Tyson has run into trouble both inside and outside the ring. He has been charged with assault, bit the ear of opponent Evander Holyfield during a bout and later threatened to eat the children of British boxer Lennox Lewis. Lewis does not have children. Tyson filed for bankruptcy in 2003.

Mayweatherfan, the official Mike Tyson reporter :D

WHat??? That is a good move for Mike, but where did Freddie go? Buddy is an awesome trainer, he really enhanced Gatti a great deal. I hope Tyson's heart is in it.

Tyson needs Mayweather Sr.
The greatest trainer on planet earth..

What happened to Duran and Roach? Whatever, I like how he wasn't available for comment, shows that he's working

good for tyson

God I wish he would go back to rooney. If he would just focus on conditioning so he could fight for a good 8-9 rounds. I think the fight with danny showed he can really fight. I wonder what would have happened if he didnt tear his knee up. It seems like he could ko brewster,ruiz,meehan,whitaker,mesi. I beleive williams is one hard headed sob. I think tyson starts winning fight here on out. But Vitali is to tall for him. It will be like lewis vs tyson.

give it 2 weeks and tyson will have quit. he just does'nt have the will to get in proper shape anymore. what can mcgirt do that roach can't?

kinda agree with above post, sayin that ya never no in this crappy division he could win a belt again

Id rather see him with an experienced proven trainer in McGirt than Duran. But like others have said whats the big deal Roach is a decent trainer and he didn't get much outta Tyson. Hopefully McGirt can do it though.

I do not think he has the heart to fight any tough fights anymore...but for some reason I know I will be watching his fight when/if he returns to the ring.

McGirt is a good trainer.....it worked great with Gatti...but Tyson does not have it mentally anymore..

i hope he doesnt follow holyfeilds footsteps :( he should get out now.....ok maybe just go bankrupt....clear that tax bill, fight a few tomato cans and retire with a couple of million.

McGirt: Tyson training hard!

http://www.*********.com/1photos/mcgirt_scott.jpg

January 15, 2005

By Lisa Scott

'Iron' Mike Tyson has the best curve ball in the sport of boxing. Weeks after telling the press that he no longer has an interest in fighting and that he may never step foot in the ring again, the former two-time heavyweight champ has hired James 'Buddy' McGirt to train him and has spent the week at McGirt's gym in Vero Beach - all amid rumors and statements from the legendary Roberto Duran that he was pegged to take over the role as Tyson's new trainer.
Initially, the 38 year old Tyson sought McGirt's services prior to his fight with Clifford Etienne in 2003. When McGirt declined, the highly respected Freddie Roach was brought in for Tyson's fights with Etienne and then Danny Williams last July.

********* spoke to McGirt.

Are you now officially Mike Tyson's new trainer?
Yep. We've been working together all this week. Mike is going to take Saturday and Sunday off and we go back to the gym again on Monday. Let me tell ya, working with Mike has been really exciting for me AND it's a great learning experience. It's made me realize that every coach has their masterpiece... and Mike Tyson is Cus D'Amato's masterpiece. What Cus taught him... what Cus did with him... is truly amazing. I don't think Cus could have gotten the same results with of any other fighter. I always thought Cus' system was all about the peek-a-boo style. But it's not. It's about positioning yourself to throw punches... and Mike does it VERY well. Mike is extremely gifted and it's incredible to watch him. The other day Mike and I were walking down the street and I told him 'Man, you know... you're Cus D'Amato's masterpiece!' Mike agreed with me, and told me that Cus told him that he's one fighter that he never would have to protect.

What is your game plan for training Mike?
At this point in time, you can't have Mike try anything different. You have to get him back to what he used to do and what he knows best. There's no other way. The important thing now, is that Mike understands that.

What is you opinion on Mike's last fight with Danny Williams?
If Mike didn't injure his knee, I think he would have knocked Williams out. Once his knee went... that was it. Anyone could see that Mike injured his knee, because he grabbed it the minute it happened. Williams knew he had a hurt man in front of him and he took advantage of it.

How has Mike's knee been holding up during your training with him?
So far... his knee is looking good. He's been working out and it hasn't been giving him any problems.

What is Mike's training regimen like?
He's been working out three times a day! He does his running, conditioning and then boxing. But every day is different. He switches up and changes his routine around. But the important thing is that he is training. In the gym, he's working on trying to do the things he used to do, and to go back to the style that he used to have. He wants to get away from relying on one punch. He's focusing on a lot on combinations.

Do you feel that Mike has a renewed interest in fighting? Does he seem to enjoy or look forward to his training?
Yes. Absolutely! I can tell just by the way he talks and the things he works on in the gym. For instance, he'll keep working on something until we both feel that it's right. If I tell him his balance is off, he'll keep working until his balance isn't off. In other words, he'll keep doing something until he gets it done the right way. It's interesting, but most importantly... it's a lot of fun.

Mike has long been the object of much scuttlebutt. Yet a few months ago, a vicious rumor was purposely circulated that he was 'depressed' and involving himself heavily with 'cocaine.' In your time with Mike, has his persona or athletic performance indicated as such?
Not at all. Seeing the way that Mike has been working in the gym, the interest that he's been showing and all the running that he's been doing, it's hard for me to believe that he was doing all that stuff. People will always talk about other people, no matter what. Especially about Mike. If people don't know what he's doing, they'll take something small and make something big out of it.

I'm hearing that Mike's entourage consists of only himself. There are no more hangers-on and he's re-dedicated himself. Is this true?
Absolutely true. And... there's no music in the gym while he's training either! Mike was down here doing roadwork on his own. When he came to me (last weekend), he told me what he wanted to do. I told him: 'I'm here baby, when you're ready... let me know!' The next morning at 6:30, my phone rings. It's Mike. He tells me: 'Lets Go!' I said: 'I'll see you at the gym in a few minutes!' Ever since that day, I've been waking up at 4:30 and 5:00 o'clock in the morning... just so I'm ready to go to the gym! (Laughing).

You have a huge stable of fighters and many have upcoming bouts, namely Arturo Gatti. How is it going with Tyson now in the mix?
In the times that Mike has decided to do his gym work in the afternoons, he'll work out a little bit and leave when he sees Arturo (or others) getting ready to train. He'll say 'Buddy, I'll be back when they're done.' And... Mike comes back! I don't have to look for him or nothing! Mike is good friends with Arturo and he knows that Arturo has a big fight coming up.

In 2003, Mike asked you to train him for his fight against Clifford Etienne but you declined. What were the circumstances behind your decision to instead train Clifford?
I had just made a commitment to Clifford. Then, the next day Mike called me. I couldn't break my word to Clifford. But after that fight, Mike told me that he understood why I did what I did and that he respected me for it. It was the first thing he said when he hugged me right after the fight. Now, when Clifford and Mike see each other in the gym, they joke around with each other about that fight.

You've known Mike since his amateur days. What did you think when you first saw him fight?
The first time I saw Mike fight was in 1983 at Grossingers. He was sparring with Frank Bruno. He was 16 years old and kicking the **** out of Frank! I thought: 'This guy is a KILLER!' Kevin Rooney put him in there with no head gear... well, it was a little head gear , but it looked like NO head gear to me! Mike was 16 years old and ran Frank Bruno right out of the ring! I thought 'DAMN!' Then, Al Certo leaned over to me and said 'You're looking at the next greatest heavyweight champion.' Then in 1985 or 1986, we fought on the same card together.

Any word on when Tyson will be fighting next?
I don't know. I haven't heard anything. I'm just waitin'... that's it.

What is your 'wish list' of opponents for Tyson? Who would you like to see him fight and in what order?
Honestly? It really doesn't make a difference. There's no one out there who can beat him. I know that! When his mind is right, there's no stopping Mike. Right now, he's got the right attitude. And, with that attitude... all I can say is that I'm glad that I'm in his corner! (Laughing)- *********.com

I don't give a **** who trains Mike Tyson, the fighter has to have it in him to be successful. Tyson does not have the heart anymore. Mcgirt is wasting his time with Mike. As soon as the going gets tough for Mike he will quit like he has been doing for over three years now.

I don't give a **** who trains Mike Tyson, the fighter has to have it in him to be successful. Tyson does not have the heart anymore. Mcgirt is wasting his time with Mike. As soon as the going gets tough for Mike he will quit like he has been doing for over three years now.

Buddy Mcgirt claims Tyson is training hard in the interview and has renewed his interest in boxing. I think if Mike really wants it bad and trains to the point where he can go a good 6 rounds I think he can pick up belt or two.

"Honestly? It really doesn't make a difference. There's no one out there who can beat him. I know that! When his mind is right, there's no stopping Mike. Right now, he's got the right attitude. And, with that attitude... all I can say is that I'm glad that I'm in his corner!"- Buddy Mcgirt

You need alot more than just a quote from Mcgirt to convince me. Time and time again, Tyson has shown that he does not want to fight anymore although he has to because he owes money.

Mike always gets renewed interest. I would like it to be true but it all smells like bs to me.