IRON MIKE
Mike Tyson made his return to PPV this last Friday in an exhibition bout against the notable journeyman, Corey “T Rex” Sanders. Now, I don’t know what the crowd expected from this event as they booed at the end. This was a glorified sparring session, really, and Mike Tyson is 40 years old, and a veteran of 56 professional bouts. Not only is he 40 years old, he has also been in the game for 28 years, and his last 2 professional bouts were knockout losses against unimpressive competition. The least impressive was Kevin McBride, who has since lost to Mike Mollo, another unimpressive and unknown heavyweight.
If somebody rented this event, or paid to see it, they should be happy that they were able to witness Tyson in action and be pleased with that. This is not the Mike Tyson that obliterated Michael Spinks and Frank Bruno. This is the Mike Tyson that has nothing left and is fighting for money. The love of the game is long gone, and nobody should expect anything special from these exhibition bouts.
Mike has to do what he has to do to fight off the creditors, and since the commentary jobs that were once spoken of have apparently fizzled away, he has to go back to what he once knew: fighting. His unfavorable reputation has kept the large businesses looking for athletes to push their products far away, and the drama of his professional career is gone and can’t be sold. If he cannot knock out Kevin McBride, then he cannot knock out the World Heavyweight Champions that are now in power. He cannot even stop anyone in the top 15. He is a spent force. Now, since a professional fight on Pay Per View would be unattractive to most boxing fans, and would probably end up in yet another defeat, the circus came to town.
This Mike Tyson exhibition tour is a novelty act, and the novelty has worn off for me already, but I am a die hard Mike Tyson fan and believe that he has the right to try to make money, and if people are buying these charades, it is more of a sign of support for the former champion, or a lack of knowledge of boxing. Whatever the case, I wish Tyson well, and I hope that he does not get humiliated in his exhibition bouts as he has in his recent professional attempts.
WHAT’S NEW PUSSYCAT?
Tom Jones, the famous singer known for thrusting his crotch in the crowd’s direction and gladly accepting the panties of the women as they are tossed upon the stage, will now be facing Mike Tyson in the ring for charity. He might want to donate his share to “The Celebrities that Face Real Boxers and Get Beaten To a Pulp Foundation.” Why he would want to face Mike Tyson in the ring is beyond me, but I guess that he is not the only one. Tom Jones is the only one mentioned thus far, but I don’t see why this guy wants to step into the ring with Iron Mike. Why not start with Butterbean?
Now, Tom Jones and Mike Tyson are both in the heavyweight division. So that much is fair, but if Tyson is in a bad mood, it will be: Who’s getting carried to the Hospital, Pussycat? Stay tuned to RSR for further developments, pussycat.
THOUGHTS ON THE GIGANTIC WBA CHAMP
Nikolay Valuev, the WBA Heavyweight Champion, took one step closer to the record of 49-0, set by Rocky Marciano, with a 11th round stoppage of the game, yet limited, Monte “Two Gunz” Barrett. This was the first time that the American audience has been exposed to this 7 foot giant, and I may have been in the minority that was impressed. The man now known as “The Russian Giant,” took some big shots, maintained his composure, and waited for his opponent to slow down before going for the kill.
Valuev is not an exciting heavyweight, but then again, the fact that he is humungous and undefeated creates a buzz in the boxing world. He has the look of an unbeatable fighter and, although limited, he knows how to use his size to his advantage. He is not extremely skilled and he doesn’t hit as hard as you would think, considering his size, but he knows how to win. Most heavyweights nowadays fade badly after six rounds, and if they don’t get rid of “The Russian Giant” in the first half of the fight, they are going to have their hands full. He is not a destroyer. He waits for something to die, and then swoops in, as he did with Barrett.
Don King bringing this man to the states is pure genius. Look at our society…bigger is better! We love big things and there has never been a bigger heavyweight champion. If he is managed correctly, and he is, he could easily be the biggest name in the division and may even bring the casual boxing fans to the game again. I suspect that Don King and the good people at the WBA will carefully select the Title challengers to ensure that the Marciano record is surpassed. At, 45-0, 33 KO’s, he is only five bouts away from the longest winning streak for a heavyweight champion. There is money in that, and we will not see a unification bout until we see a 50-0 champion.
I suspect that Ray Austin will be next in line. Austin, 24-3-4, 16 KO’s, has never had a win over a B opponent, let alone an A level heavyweight. He has draws with Mount Whitaker, Larry Donald, Zuri Lawrence, and most recently, Sultan Ibragimov, and will be no match for Valuev. Austin’s biggest win was a twelve round struggling split decision over Owen Beck…a man that Valuev disposed of in three rounds. Austin will not do much better.
In the WBA rankings, Ray Austin is #5, which makes him a good defense on paper, but it is merely a padding sort of bout. Ray Austin does not belong in the top ten, let alone the top five. I truly think that we will see the WBA Heavyweight Champion select him next, but there is another guy in the WBA Rankings that is a possibility and that man is: DaVarryl “Touch of Sleep” Williamson.
Rated at #9, “The Touch of Sleep” may be seen as easy prey, but a bout with Valuev would be an interesting bout, in my opinion. With a big right hand, and when you figure in that he does his best against bigger opponents, Williamson may be one of the riskiest fights for the undefeated champion. Since Williamson is so lightly regarded, I assume that he may be on the list of eligible challengers, but I would definitely prefer to see this bout as opposed to an Austin-Valuev mismatch. “The Touch of Sleep” actually has a chance, and I love underdogs with a huge punch.
So, in the coming weeks, expect negotiations to begin with Ray Austin or DaVarryl Williamson for a crack at the WBA Heavyweight Crown. I would also like to say that Monte Barrett redeemed himself for his non-effort against Hasim Rahman with gutsy performance a few weeks ago.
MORALES-PACQUIAO III APPROACHING
On November 18th, the argument will be settled, and the better fighter will remain when Erik Morales tries to stop the most exciting fighter in the game, Manny Pacquiao. The more that I think about this bout, the excitement is getting replaced with concern. Erik Morales has been a pro for thirteen years, has had fifty two bouts, and has recently been taking a lot of punches. When you figure in the intent of “El Terrible,” this bout just might end up in disaster. It’s actually hard to believe that Morales is a mere 30 years in age, but that is an old 30 and in this “do or die” fight, and nobody has ever questioned the heart of the Mexican warrior. When he brings that heart into the ring and need for revenge against the powerful and aggressive Manny Pacquiao, it might be a nasty scene.
So, I will probably rent this Pay Per Screw because I am a Pacquiao fan and he never fails to entertain, but I will be surprised if Erik Morales can end his career on a positive note.
PROSPECT WATCH: ENRIQUE PALAU’S CAREER CONTINUES
This Saturday, at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT, Sean Fitzgerald’s star middleweight pupil: Enrique Palau, 5-0, 4 KO’s, will return to the ring against John Gottschling, 10-12, 7 KO’s, in another test for the young prospect. Although Gottschling has a losing record, he can’t be discounted because he has faced some good opposition and has been eight rounds before and brings that experience into this bout. Boxers like Elvin Ayala and Billy Irwin both stopped Gottschling in the first round, so we should get an idea of where Palau is at this point in his career.
Enrique Palau has a lot going for him with Sean Fitzgerald in his corner and with the experience of sparring with WBA Junior Middleweight Champion, Jose Antonio Rivera. I look forward to a great fight this Saturday at Mohegan Sun, and I suspect that Palau will continue his winning ways.
