The Hindu : Sport / Boxing : Tyson reduced to casino sideshow

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Friday, Sep 01, 2006

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Sport - Boxing

Tyson reduced to casino sideshow

LAS VEGAS : Some crowded around the ring with cell phone cameras in hand. Others sat at a bar not 20 feet (6 meters) away drinking beer. Still others ignored it all and smoked cigarettes and played slot machines.

Mike Tyson used to put on displays. On this day, he was just on display.

Down the street, tourists watched lions and dolphins between breaks at the slot machines. In the Aladdin hotel, they didn't need to move from their seats at the bar to see another curiosity in a makeshift ring.

The former baddest man on the planet has been reduced to this — just another freak show on the Las Vegas Strip.

The signs said he was in training, and that was enough to lure a few hundred people to the makeshift ring set up just outside the casino's buffet restaurant. Training for what was a question better left unanswered.

Tyson once made $35 million for one fight and more than $300 million in his career before blowing it all. Now he's a casino sideshow, trying to make a few bucks the only way he knows how in a sport he no longer can stand.

``I truly hate fighting,'' Tyson said. ``I've got a bad taste in my mouth.''

Uncomfortable

On this day, Tyson is contrite; seemingly embarrassed his life has been reduced to this. He says he's uncomfortable going out in front of people masquerading as the fighter he once was when he knows it's all really a charade.

But he owes his creditors millions, needs the money desperately, and took up the casino on its offer to make some.

So he gets into the ring to throw a few punches at the mitts of Australian trainer Jeff Fenech as tourists take pictures. Tyson is 40, but he's an old 40. Look past the bizarre tattoo that stretches across the left side of his face, and there's a weariness on his face that comes with years of hard fighting and even harder living.

It's been 20 years since Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion ever by knocking out Trevor Berbick.

His world quickly became filled with riches, women and fame in such abundance that the one-time street tough from New York had no chance of handling it all. He went to prison for rape only to come out bigger than ever, but his new life spiralled out of control almost as quickly.

Great life

``I had a great life. I had 20 lives. No way should they be sympathetic to me,'' Tyson said.

He still manages to drive a BMW, though he's quick to say that he used to drive Ferraris and Bentleys. He owned mansions, too, and not just one. When you're heavyweight champion of the world, you think the money will never stop flowing.

``I blank all that out of my mind,'' Tyson said. ``If I think or dwell on that I can't be the person I want to be in life.''

Which is?

``A simple guy.''

Unfortunately, nothing will ever be simple for Tyson. He's always been tormented by demons he's been either unable or unwilling to control, and he seems as confused over his future as he was in his past.

He vows never to fight for real again. But here he is training next to a bank of slot machines trying to get in some kind of shape so he can make a few bucks off of his name.

It's sad, but that's the way it is. It's hard not to picture him ending up like Joe Louis, who worked as a casino greeter and often was brought out drooling in his wheelchair to ringside so high rollers could say they saw the Brown Bomber.

People loved Louis. For some reason, they're still fascinated with Tyson.

He doesn't really want to be doing this, but the offer of a free hotel suite and some cash brought him up.

Now it's showtime, time to walk into the casino and go to work.

``Life,'' he says, ``has changed so much.'' — AP

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