Iron Mike rusty, ends in scraps

Tyson learned the hard way that he no longer has the heart for boxing, taking a beating from Irishman Kevin McBride before quitting after si...

Tyson learned the hard way that he no longer has the heart for boxing, taking a beating from Irishman Kevin McBride before quitting after six rounds in what he called his ring farewell.

‘‘I can’t do this no more. I can’t lie to myself,” Tyson said yesterday. ‘‘I can’t do this. I’m not going to embarrass the sport anymore. This is just my ending. That’s it. It’s finished.’’ Tyson’s controversial 20-year career saw him become the undisputed heavyweight champion from 1987 to 1990 and fall into disgrace with rape and assault convictions and a one-year ban for biting Evander Holyfield’s ears.

‘‘I just don’t have it in me,’’ Tyson said. ‘‘I’m just finished with this. I’m no good anymore. I don’t think I have the stomach for this anymore. I don’t have anything to fight for anymore.’’

Tyson’s final moments in boxing came late in a wild sixth round in which Tyson head-butted McBride and trapped his foe’s left arm, arousing fears he might break it the way he nearly once did South African Francois Botha’s arm. ‘‘I was desperate to win,’’ Tyson admitted. ‘‘Man, I would have done anything.’’

Referee Joe Cortez took two points from Tyson for the head-butt, which opened a gash under McBride’s left eye. The Irish journeyman rallied and pinned Tyson on the ropes before shoving him onto his rear as round six ended.

Tyson stayed seated for a few moments, then hesitatingly rose and walked to his corner, never more to return, his attempted comeback crushed. McBride’s record improved to 33-4-1 with 28 knockouts but Tyson is clearly the most impressive scalp on the Clones native’s record.

If this is to be his last fight, he retires with a 50-6 record that includes 44 knockouts. He will pick up $5 million for the fight while McBride’s purse will be just $150,000. McBride said Tyson was ‘‘still brilliant’’ as a fighter. ‘‘He’s perhaps one of the greatest warriors of all time. I just got him at the right time. I don’t know if it’s the end of the road for Mike Tyson, but it sure is the start of the road for me.’’

Laila Ali takes world boxing title

Washington:
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Her dad came to watch, and Laila Ali did him proud. With Muhammad Ali at ringside last night, Laila pounded Erin Toughill into submission in the third round to remain undefeated and become the first woman to win a World Boxing Council title.

Toughill took about 20 consecutive punches in her corner before referee Joseph Cooper stepped in to stop the fight. Laila, who is generally recognised as the top woman in boxing, improved to 21-0 by winning the super middleweight fight against a fighter with far less experience.

‘‘It’s wonderful anytime my dad is there,’’ Laila said. ‘‘It lights a fire in me.’’ Laila had promised to give Toughill a beating, and she did just that in the fight on the undercard of the Mike Tyson-Kevin McBride fight.

Toughill did land some effective punches in the first round, mostly left hooks. But Ali’s speed and power were too much and she began taking a beating in the second round. — AP