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Mike Tyson
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Didn’t go the PPV route … instead, I gobbled up much of what had been reported on the Williams-Tyson- version of Custer at Little Bighorn
But first, a sentence or two on the early day Tyson … a fun watch if there ever was one. Starts a pro career still a teener under maestro Bill Cayton and Kevin Rooney doing the choreography … reels off 27 consecutive KO’s before adding Berbick for WBC bauble … 28 and 0 all via knockout.
Was shortly after that I first heard the most bizarre between-round trainer to fighter verbal exchanges … Rooney the talking and Mike the listening, "Ok, Mike give it a 321, 516 … maybe a 312." First thought maybe Rooney moonlights as a Catskill mountain pimp when not in the gym … and them numbers were area codes or something. Knew instantly this guy Rooney was a fraud.
Point of all this a recall of a whole different Tyson … one that shot from the corner from the opening bell as if catapulted at the enemy … and we all recall them intimidating days - the punches came in bunches with bad intentions on every delivery.
Fast forward Showtime a week after, and suspected pigeon in Britain’s Danny Williams upsets the latest Tyson apple cart with a surprise 4th round knockout.
Fact: Tyson claims opening candle with a two-fisted attack from the start … the inside left-hook a.k.a. uppercut wobbles Williams on two hits, but the big and game Brit hangs tough. Round two it is Tyson claiming the edge with another strong round although Williams does battle back.
And so it went all Tyson over candles uno, dos, tres although Williams was seen doing some scoring during number three. And that other problem - a replay of opening round action saw Tyson pause and step back at one point as if hurting the left knee.
Old news now that surgery was done on the wounded knee, and not many people undergo surgery for kicks alone, so Mike and company could use the injury as a crutch that gifted Williams with the win.
But, the camera did catch Tyson up close and personal while sitting against the ring ropes, as referee comic Dennis Alfred was struggling with the simple math, and at no time did Tyson appear in distress - looked here that Tyson could have easily beaten the count. Even after the fact, Mike rose to his feet and walked with no need for assistance to his corner.
So, what’s up is anyone’s guess … when the knee heals, we just may see Tyson returning … money talks … but the yesterday clout is gone … and at age 38, the slam-dunk in your face is nothing more than a memory … and as in Holyfield fight the hint was of no turn around when the other one handles the heat and returns fire.
If so, the only prerequisite left is in settling for chump change on a monthly diet to help with the late bills. With a question mark of sensitive knee ligaments the risks in facing the serious ones could well be more damaging than worth the effort.
GEL.
Edited by Elisa Harrison.
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© Copyright / All Rights reserved: Doghouse Boxing 1998-2004
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Commentary by George J. Elsasser (August 10, 2004) 
