By Keith Terceira
In 1986 when “Iron Mike” dethroned Trevor Berbick I was cruising the FDR drive in a 68 Firebird thinking that Tyson was bigger and better than the Yankees for New York. For several years after all I heard on the street was questions about Mike’s next opponent.
One day as I parked my car on the west side and walked towards the world trade center to do a job at the IRS offices, the parking attendant announced that Tyson had signed to fight Holyfield. It was the talk of the town for months.
Tyson may not have wanted to bring a city to it’s feet in celebration, he may have never wanted to be a role model but that is what he became. With the titles, the money, and the fame came a responsibility to the sport of boxing, it was all a package deal.
Time and time again Mike’s fan base has forgiven him his errors, but instead of a gracious hand in thanks Tyson turns again to bite that hand or ear if you like. Wife beating and rape are not enough of a black eye to boxing, now Tyson wants to fight Ann Wolfe and have the slightly strange in the country pay for it.
Tyson’s life has turned from the American dream, a thing from a storybook, to the “Tales from the Dark side”, all at the expense of Boxing, it’s fans, and the athletes that still believe in titles , world championships, and sportsmanship. Everyone knows that boxing is about money, fact is everything in this country is about money including the church you visit on your holy day. Most people though don’t place that one on the list of life’s moral values . Most people in the world don’t squander millions then ask the world to bale them out at the expense of their profession.
Promoter Sterling McPherson is quoted as saying
“We are giving the public all over the world a chance to watch him box again”
I ask boxing fans, one question.
“Why would you pay to see a man that single handedly cut the throat of boxing more so than any Champion in history.”
I guess the same people that went to watch Fridge Perry and Tonya Harding box or the bearded lady at Coney Island, will clamor for tickets but I won’t be in line and will make sure that I tell any of our amateurs not to purchase tickets, fact is Tyson is often used as a reverse example to kids we train, an anti-role model.
Today Tyson warned not to expect much from these “shows”, so basically it’s a sideshow tour to use the fan again, to get into our pockets one more time. I hope someone has the decency to put a stop to the Tyson World Tour, close the book on Tyson’s boxing career and let time smooth some of the sharp edges that once was a breathtaking decade in boxing with a fabulous champion that fell long and hard from grace.
Please though Mike when you leave, don’t turn the lights out, leave them on for the next prospects to bask in, perhaps they won’t waste to opportunity to shine.