Mike Tyson, once known as the most ferocious fighter on the planet, admitted he was "fighting like a coward" in his final professional bout. The former heavyweight champion lost his passion for boxing long before he stepped into the ring for the last time in 2005.
Tyson's career began with a bang. At 18, he turned pro and won his first 19 fights by stoppage, 12 of them in the first round. By 20, he'd become the youngest heavyweight champion in history, demolishing Trevor Berbick in just two rounds.
'Iron Mike' quickly collected the WBC, WBA, and IBF titles. But his reign at the top wasn't meant to last. In February 1990, James 'Buster' Douglas shocked the world by dethroning Tyson in a sensational upset.
Things got worse for Tyson. He missed his prime years due to a prison stint. When he came back, he briefly regained a heavyweight title by beating Frank Bruno in 1996. But controversy followed, including the infamous 'bite fight' with Evander Holyfield.
Tyson's final professional fight came against Kevin McBride in Washington. It wasn't pretty. Tyson resorted to dirty tactics, even trying to twist McBride's arm. Frustrated and lacking his old fire, Tyson quit on his stool before the 7th round.
After the fight, Tyson opened up about his state of mind:
"I got the ability to stay in shape, but I don't got the fighting guts I don't think anymore… I'm just sorry I let everyone down, I don't have this in my heart anymore."
He continued:
"I'm more conscious of my children and those guys, I'm looking at my opponents, I just don't have that ferocity, I'm not an animal anymore. Yeah, most likely I'm not going to fight again, I'm not going to disrespect the sport anymore by losing like a coward in fights."
Tyson admitted he hadn't loved fighting since 1990, a shocking revelation considering his reputation as a knockout artist. He said:
"I'm sure I'll find something to do, boxing doesn't define me, I'm just sorry to the people in this city, I know I didn't have it in my stomach no more, but I was in dire needs and I need to take care of my life."
Despite vowing never to fight again, Tyson did return to the ring in November 2022. He faced Jake Paul in a controversial showdown at AT&T; Stadium in Texas. After eight rounds, Tyson lost by unanimous decision, nearly two decades after his last professional bout.
Tyson's career was a rollercoaster of highs and lows. From the youngest heavyweight champion to a fighter who lost his love for the sport, his journey remains one of boxing's most fascinating stories.
