Posted on: Monday, June 21, 2004

'Iron Mike' has lost his luster

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist

So, this is how far they are telling us Mike Tyson has plummeted: A K-1 fighter with barely a boxing resume beats somebody called "Shaka Zulu" and, suddenly, he's in line to fight Iron Mike?

The "real" Tyson, the one who once ruled the heavyweight squared circle with what he proudly termed "murderous intent", has long since disappeared, sliding down and out if not well around the bend.

The once self-described "baddest man on the planet" has been replaced by a guy shuffling between largely unknown opponents and declining paydays, desperate for new gimmicks and trading on fading memories.

Still, has Tyson's fall really been so precipitous that promoters want to match him against K-1 fighter Jerome Le Banner in the featured bout of a proposed Sept. 11 mixed boxing/K-1 card at Aloha Stadium?

Understand that the Hawai'i State Boxing Commission says that, as proposed, the Tyson bout would be fought strictly under boxing rules — no kicks, takedowns etc. — because state statutes only give the commission jurisdiction over boxing, not K-1, which includes kickboxing and other martial art forms.

Once upon a time, an opponent stepping outside his discipline and into the path of Tyson's thunderous fists would have been tantamount to endorsing suicide. Assuming you could find someone foolish enough.

So terrified were even highly ranked boxers of the punishment Tyson (50-4) was capable of inflicting that they often lost their nerve in the ring. The "Joe Louis Syndrome" the historians likened it to, for the way Louis' opponents had withered before your eyes.

But in Tyson's case the fear factor must have faded. What three years in the slammer on a rape conviction, and another year for assault didn't take out of Tyson, age (he will be 38 next week) and long spells of inactivity have. Tyson has fought just three times in the past 31 months, and hasn't beaten anyone of renown in ages.

Now, if promoters get their paperwork done, Tyson passes his physical and doesn't bite anybody, the circus brings to town a bout with Le Banner, whose last opponent was listed as "Shaka Zulu." Promoters claim a 50-8-1 "fight" record but only five boxing matches for Le Banner. Boxingrecords.com lists Le Banner at 2-0 as a boxer.

You'd think the lack of top drawer boxing experience would be a huge red flag, because K-1 fights rarely go past three rounds, and the last place you'd want to run out of gas would be in a ring with Tyson. If, indeed, you got that far.

Before he became a guy threatening to eat people's children, Tyson would have chewed up guys like that.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.