Following a pair of losses to Lennox Lewis and an unknown Danny Williams, Mike Tyson set on the comeback trail for the last time. His opponent: Ireland's own Kevin McBride. Tyson was nearly 39 years old and was well past his prime. He had donned a new tattoo that covered the left side of his face, citing that he hadn't liked the way it looked.

Nine days before his bout with McBride, Tyson indicated that the end was near. "My whole life has been a waste--I've been a failure. I just want to escape. I'm really embarrassed with myself and my life. I want to be a missionary. I think I could do that while keeping my dignity without letting people know they chased me out of the country. I want to get this part of my life over as soon as possible. In this country, nothing good is going to come of me. I'm so stigmatized, there is no way I can elevate myself."

Tyson's motive for fighting, much like Evander Holyfield's in his latter years, was for money. He had either spent or lost all of the $300 million he earned over his career and had declared bankruptcy in 2003. For this fight, Tyson earned $5 million.

Iron Mike was confident that defeating McBride was going to lead him to a heavyweight title bout. "I'm going to gut him like a fish," he told reporters. "He's just a tomato can."



Kevin McBride matched Tyson blow for blow. The sellout crowd at the MCI Center watched as the stepping stone in Tyson's comeback attempt turned the tables. Mike turned to desperation to keep his career alive. He headbutted the Irishman, opening a gash over his opponent's right eye, and tried several times to break McBride's arm.

Tyson's career ended in the sixth round. McBride finished with a flurry of hits that Tyson could barely withstand. The former prodigy who took out Michael Spinks in under two minutes couldn't even retaliate. With seconds remaining in the round, McBride shoved the former IBF champion to the mat. Tyson sat against the ropes for a few seconds, perhaps seeing his illustrious career before his eyes. Then he slowly got up as the closing bell dinged and lumbered back to his corner.

Tyson didn't return for the seventh round. Two of the judges had him leading the fight, but he had seen the writing on the wall, he knew the days of contending for a title had past him. "This is it," he told referee Joe Cortez. "It's finished." Right then and there, Tyson walked away from boxing forever.

He later told Jim Gray, "I don't have the guts to fight anymore. My heart is not in it anymore. I don't want to disrespect the sport I love." "If I can't beat Kevin McBride, I can't compete in this sport anymore."

Even in retirement, Tyson couldn't enjoy a breath of humility. McBride later accused Tyson of biting his nipple during the fight. "I didn't realize it at first but he had his teeth around it. I just felt a strange sensation and then realized what he'd done. He could not get up high enough to bite my ears -- good (thing) he wasn't a midget, otherwise he would have bitten something else."

With the loss of Mike Tyson, boxing lost its best promoter and its star attraction. "I'm not the kind of guy you feel sorry for, I'm just not that kind of guy," he said afterwards. "I don't want people to look up to me. I know who I am. I've done things I am not proud of in my life. I don't want nobody looking up to me. I'm just an isolated guy. People think they know me but they don't know me."

Who knows how Tyson will live out the remaining years of his life. With Mike Tyson, it's hard to tell where rock bottom is.

From a Stool, Tyson Ends It
Tyson's love for the fight game turns to disgust