The Cyber Boxing Zone Newswire

July 16, 1999

As Mike Tyson embarks upon yet, another comeback onto the boxing scene everyone is wondering what is the latest on boxing's most explosive entity.

At age 33, Tyson, following a minor "traffic altercation" in Maryland last August, was arrested and sentenced to a Maryland jail in early February. Tyson, who was released on May 24, entered training camp with his current trainer, Tommy Brooks, the former CO-trainer in Evander Holyfield's corner the two times he defeated Tyson (TKO 11, W DQ 3). According to Tyson's advisor Shelley Finkel, Tyson entered camp in Phoenix, Arizona recently weighing around 270 pounds. Tyson is currently walking around at 250 lb. and is expected to extend his promotional deal with Dan Goosen of America Presents from two to four additional fights.

As far as Tyson's anticipated return, he has been slotted for October 2. Providing he wins against either Zeljko Mavrovic (Croatia), Axel Schultz (Germany), or George Foreman, Tyson could end 1999 with another showing on December 11. Both fights will occur at the MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In his first and only appearance this year in January, Tyson returned to the ring for the first time since getting disqualified for biting Holyfield's ears in June 1996, knocked out South Africa's Frans Botha (KO 5). Although the bout was 15 minutes, the time frame was long enough to determine that Tyson is far from the dominating force he once was 10 years ago.

Tyson's handspeed has eroded to the degree where whenever he launches his famous left hook, he misses wildly at targets whether rotating or stationary. Tyson allows himself to get smothered and has shown more vulnerability to counter-punches. Tyson still has the ability to spread his feet wide apart to generate enough power to knock anyone out with one punch.

With proper training from Brooks and guidance from Finkel, Tyson should once again become a "major player" in the heavyweight division. Although he has a record of 9-3 this decade, the only creditable opponent who ever beat Tyson was Holyfield. Had Tyson not been convicted in 1992, he would have by far easily wiped the mat with Holyfield when they were supposed to meet seven years ago. Tyson would have also avenged his shocking upset loss to Buster Douglas (KO 10) in February 1990 had he received an immediate rematch.

Tyson may still be on the decline, but he is still at the point of his career where it will take a great fighter to beat him.