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Tyson's career at the crossroads
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- When asked what would happen to his boxing career if he loses his heavyweight title rematch to Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson countered with a three-word combination."You tell me," Iron Mike said.
"It changes, of course," said Jay Larkin, the man behind Showtime-SET boxing, which still has a year and half remaining on a contract to televise Tyson's fights. "Mike Tyson would be a changed product, but still a very marketable opponent.
"He would be a different Mike Tyson," Larkin continued. "There's nothing like losing two fights in a row to give a fighter a new outlook."
"I love boxing," Tyson said this week. "It's the best sport in the world. If it wasn't, we wouldn't be making all this money."
Should he lose Saturday night, Tyson could still command million-dollar purses, but his $20 million-$30 million paydays would be over -- at least for some time.
When it was mentioned to Larkin that pay-per-view prices for Tyson fights would be more like $29.95 instead of $49.95 should he lose, Larkin asked, "Would people pay $49.95 to see Tyson fight George Foreman?"
Yes.
Tyson, of course, thinks any talk about what he will do if he loses is just talk.
"I know what I have to face, and I'm prepared for it," he said. "I'm not underestimating anyone. I predict a sensational victory."
What about Holyfield's future if Tyson fulfills his prediction?
"I used to be afraid because people talk about me staying too long or not knowing how to quit," said Holyfield, whose career has appeared ended on a couple of occasions. "But every time I retire I want to go to the gym again. Maybe when the whole world says I'm the best around, that will be it."
In boxing, however, you're only as good as your last fight, and there's always something left to prove.
As for Saturday night's fight, trainer Angelo Dundee, who knows how to dissect a fighter's style as well as anyone, thinks Holyfield "will do the same number on Tyson, maybe it will be a little easier. The Dwight Muhammad Qawi fights showed me that Holyfield can be a devastating counter puncher. I just think Tyson is made to order for him."
Qawi was an attacking fighter from whom Holyfield won the WBA cruiserweight title on a 15-round decision in his 12th pro fight July 20, 1986. In a rematch Dec. 4, 1987, Holyfield knocked out Qawi in the fourth round.
Because, like Qawi, Tyson's style is to attack, Holyfield was able to counter punch in the first fight, and Tyson admitted, "He's a fast counter puncher, a first-class counter puncher -- awesome."
Can Tyson change his style to offset that counter punching?
Another question involves Holyfield's age. The calendar says he's 34, but a fighter's age also must be based on length of career and wear-and-tear. Holyfield had a lengthy amateur career, and although he's had 12 fewer fights than Tyson, wo will be 31 Monday, he's had many more tough matches.
Will the Holyfield who fights Saturday night be the same one who beat Tyson, or will he suddenly look like an old, mistake-prone fighter?
Holyfield will answer his question affirmatively and win on points.