Paul Barker

25.07 - As hard as it may seem to believe, Mike Tyson was once a universally loved and respected fighter. Did the guy have even one verifiable critic between '86 and '90? He clobbered his way through perhaps the weakest heavyweight division in history, exposing its complacent, out-of-shape "athletes" for what they were, and the grateful public practically deified him in return.

We were hard up for heroes in the eighties, and here in our midst was Superman! After seeing him fight for the first time (fall of '85, can't remember the opponent), I was reasonably sure of two things: He was going to be heavyweight champion of the world, and he would never be defeated. Well, I was lookin' like Nostradamus until that fateful day in 1990…

Shifting back to late '86 for a moment, I don't think I've ever awaited a fight more eagerly than Tyson/Berbick. Mike was gunning for Berbick's WBC Heavyweight Title, and a spot in the record books as the youngest heavyweight champ of all time. The bout took place in Vegas, and its two rounds of lop-sided butchery catapulted young Tyson to the absolute forefront of heavyweight boxing. Trevor Berbick, a powerful, credible opponent, was utterly destroyed.

And so it began. Tyson's reign, Tyson's legend, Tyson's troubles. He quickly consolidated his lofty position by unifying the heavyweight titles, and obliterating every fighter foolish enough - or greedy enough - to make a grab for 'em. He cut down Tyrell Biggs, Larry Holmes, Tony Tubbs, Michael Spinks, Frank Bruno and Carl Williams as if they were strawweights, one after the other. He was probably never so popular, with fans and critics alike, as on the eve of his fight with Buster Douglas in Tokyo.

Only those closest to Tyson had seen the cracks emerging. Kevin Rooney was no longer around to stress defense (his role having apparently been filled by Robin Givens); Mike, in an effort to cope with his well-publicized personal problems, was taking WAY too much medication; and lest we forget the untimely, unholy seduction by Don King, which would have screwed up even a well adjusted fighter!

I wrote off Tyson's startling loss to the enigmatic Buster Douglas as a fluke. But I ain't so sure anymore. Buster was enmeshed in circumstances no less tumultuous than his opponent's (the death of his mother, the desertion of his trainer/father, etc.), yet he rose to the occasion admirably. Buster had always been regarded as lazy but talented fighter; perhaps his talent won out over his laziness this night, and it was more than Iron Mike could handle.

I remained convinced of Tyson's omnipotence, however, and largely oblivious to the stupid things he was doing in public. It did dawn on me that he was becoming somewhat easy to hit, but as long as he kept winning I didn't much care.

And then it happened again! Several years later, granted, but the pattern was the same. Having overcome Seldon, McNeeley, and a three-year jail term for rape, Mike Tyson climbed into the ring against former cruiserweight Evander Holyfield, assumed the role of punching bag for eleven rounds - and got himself KO'ed. It was an ignominious performance to be sure, but there was worse to come…

Tyson/Holyfield II was the nadir of Tyson's career. The Ear Biting Fight. It really needs no further description. Inexplicably, and for all my disgust, I came away from this debacle still believing in Tyson as a fighter.

He almost bore me out with his subsequent string of victories and no contests. It was fun watching Iron Mike mow down mildly impressive boxers like Botha, Savaerse, Golata, and Nielson. Most knowledgeable boxing people had long since written Tyson off, but not yours truly, I'm ashamed to say. He had been my discovery back in '85, and I still maintained that he would one day "shock the world."

AND THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN! Mike Tyson was by all accounts physically and mentally sharp when he hopped into the ring last month in Memphis, and younger than his opponent by almost a year. It just so happened that his opponent was none other than undisputed heavyweight king Lennox Lewis, a frustrated, under appreciated boxer who'd been waiting for an opportunity like this his entire life

Mikey was obliterated.

And I was through with him. Well, perhaps not quite…

Permit me to assess him from my new and enlightened perspective. Michael Gerard Tyson, I now believe, had two attributes as a pro boxer: speed and power. He dominated for a while in a very weak division, but eventually fell victim to a handful of decent boxers who did not fear him. While he's actually retained much of his speed and power, what little technical skill he once possessed has dried into dust. I doubt he'll ever take the trouble to relearn it, as the years of easy money, easy women, and easy living have fatally undermined his passion for the game.

There is still passion within him; he's just no longer capable of directing it.