Kevin McBride, the man who sent Mike Tyson into retirement, says he can still feel the effects of Tyson's punching power almost 20 years after their fight.
McBride, an American-Irish heavyweight, faced Tyson in Washington, D.C. in 2005. The bout ended with Tyson quitting before the 7th round, marking the end of his professional career.
In a recent interview with Bloody Elbow, McBride reflected on the lasting impact of Tyson's legendary power:
"Mike Tyson's power is unbelievable. I still feel it to this day, more than 19 years later … He hits so hard and power is the last thing to go. George Foreman proved that against Michael Moorer. Sure he was a bit younger than Mike is now but power-wise it is one of the biggest punches in history."
Tyson's career peaked in the mid-to-late eighties when he was a dominant force in boxing. He won his first 19 bouts via stoppage, with 12 of those coming in the first round. In 1986, at just 20 years old, he became the youngest world heavyweight champion by knocking out Trevor Berbick in the second round for the WBC title.
A year later, Tyson unified the division by defeating James Smith for the WBA title and Tony Tucker for the IBF belt. At 21 years and one month, he became the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
Later in his career, personal issues outside the ring affected Tyson's performances. He suffered several defeats and eventually retired after losing to Kevin McBride in 2005.
Tyson made a return to the ring last November, losing a controversial decision to Jake Paul at AT&T; Stadium in Texas. Despite the loss and his age, McBride's comments suggest that Tyson's power remains a formidable weapon, cementing his status as one of the most fearsome punchers in boxing history.
