SLAM! Sports
SLAM! Boxing
COLUMNS
CANADIAN PUNCH
UPPERCUTS
LOOKING BACK
GALLERIES
INTERACTIVE
ALSO ON SLAM!
Tyson's biggest fight
He must realize that in the blood thirsty eyes of a swarming British crowd and the thirstier pockets of promoters, match-makers, businessmen and leeches, he is still of some purpose.
Sad, yes, but so true. As long as Tyson can sell out an arena, scowl into a camera, threaten to kill, knockout, offend, ignite, and make money by means of all the above, we haven't seen the last of him.
And on Saturday, when he steps into the ring with Julius Francis, he'll surely realize that, as ridiculous and unwarranted as it sounds, he may be a few short fights away from fighting Lennox Lewis for the heavyweight championship of the world.
There are a half dozen heavyweights in the world today that are more worthy. There are none more news worthy. There are none that can produce a fight with the ring of "Lewis vs. Tyson". There are no stories that could match the one Tyson would write, if he could indeed knock out Lennox Lewis and once again stand triumphant, from the bottom of the barrel to the top of the mountain. Heavyweight champion of the world.
And most importantly, in the sharkey, greedy world of professional pugilism, there is no fight that can match a Lewis vs. Tyson in terms of potential profit.
In a smoky office somewhere right now they're talking it over, jiggling the ice in their scotches, rubbing their hands together like greedy flies and dreaming of the possibilities.
Lennox Lewis is somewhere in Britain having a tea and playing chess, reading the headlines and smiling.
And Mike Tyson is somewhere, scared and insecure, dreaming up his possible escape routes should he find himself in over his head. He's already tried the bite, the arm bar and the sucker punch. All fouls aimed at preserving the reputation, the phony facade of a frightened man about to be exposed.
And although he's a relative unknown, we shouldn't take Julius Francis for granted. I'm sure most think it will be easy work for Tyson, but on the other side of a short fence, there is man inspired by an equally great opportunity. Besides, if you've seen Tyson's last few fights, it's clear that any half decent boxer with a good chin stands a chance.
But Tyson knows that he's still got the bomb and for him he's always one punch away from tugging himself out of the gutter. And it's the flashing picture of the one perfect punch that he dreams about landing on the chin of Lennox Lewis. Being hoisted on the shoulders of frantic fans. For a glorious moment being respected, being forgiven. No talk of the rapist, the thug, the dummy, the animal. For Tyson...freedom.
That's why when Mike Tyson fights Julius Francis on Saturday it will be the most important fight of his career. His last chance. And I bet he's somewhere now, talking tough, but a little scared and a little amazed at finding himself in this position. In a city where's he's been given given a glimpse of what remains and of what might be. Somewhere between the dream of transcendent glory and the reality of being a washed-up, ex-con who will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
 Bert's back on blades Blue Jays boot game Bombers drop Peterson Felicien rebuilds race | Visit our Polls Archive |