'I've got a long way to go'
KO punch shuts up Botha, but not Tyson critics
Posted: Sunday January 17, 1999 04:07 PM
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Tyson wants to fight four times this year, and hopes he can get a third match with Evander Holyfield AP |
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- One punch silenced Francois Botha. It did not
silence Mike Tyson's critics.
Until he knocked out his taunting opponent with a counter right
to the head in Saturday's fifth round, Tyson was headed for his third
straight loss, one that would have wrecked his career. He lost all of the first four rounds on the cards of two judges and won only one round on the third judge's card.
"I didn't prove anything," Tyson said. "I'm just trying. I've
got a long way to go. We're working on it."
While Tyson hasn't lost his punching power, many in boxing
contend his performance Saturday night underscored the opinion that
he has fallen a long way from his pedestal as "the baddest man on
the planet," and it is too late to climb back.
"I'll be back in the gym in two weeks," said Tyson, whose
flawed but spectacular victory in the MGM Grand Garden was his
first fight since he bit Evander Holyfield's ears June 28, 1997.
Plans call for Tyson, who has multiple-bout deals with Showtime
and with the MGM Grand, to fight again April 24.
Asked if his next opponent would be Axel Schulz of Germany, who
was at ringside Saturday night, Tyson said. "I don't know. I
guess. I'll fight anybody."
Schulz, who lost title-bout decisions to George Foreman and to
Botha, is one of the names on a list of prospective opponents.
Jay Larkin, in charge of boxing for Showtime, had said the
quality of Tyson's performance against Botha would determine the
quality of his next opponent.
Schulz, like Botha, is not a big puncher. At the moment, Tyson
does not need to face a power puncher. He will be 33 on June 30, and now must turn his attention to out-of-the-ring problems.
On Feb. 5, he faces sentencing in Maryland on a no-contest plea
on two misdemeanor assault charges. One man accused Tyson of
punching him and another accused of kicking him in the groin after
a traffic accident involving his wife, Monica. Tyson has settled
with both men out of court.
After the sentencing, Indiana authorities will consider whether
Tyson violated his parole and what action, if any, they will take.
Tyson served three years in an Indiana prison on a rape conviction.
His probation is to end in March.
Those closely involved with Tyson's career seem confident he
will not be sent back to prison.
Tyson wants to fight four times this year, and Larkin would like
to see that fourth fight be a third match with Holyfield, who
stopped Tyson in 11th round Nov. 9, 1996, then won the Bite Fight.
The Tyson who beat Botha wasn't as good as the Tyson who lost
the two Holyfield fights.
Tommy Brooks, Tyson's new trainer, had Tyson working on basics
in preparation for Botha. But Saturday night, Tyson didn't punch to
the body, hardly ever jabbed and loaded up on his punches in quest
of a knockout.
Asked if he knew he was behind on points, Tyson said, "I wasn't
worried about that."
Brooks said Sunday, "He said, `I got him in my sights coach,
just give me time.' "
Tyson should have been worried. Many of his power punches were
wild, and he was getting popped by right hands.
Age and two long periods of inactivity have robbed Tyson of much
of the quickness that made him the world's most feared fighter from
1986 to 1990. That quickness enabled Tyson to overcome the fact
that he is a small heavyweight. He is listed at 5-foot-11 1-2, but
is closer to 5-9 1-2.
One important thing gone from Tyson's arsenal is intimidation.
Botha showed no fear of Iron Mike. At the end of the first round the two men, who were in a clinch at the bell, began a hitting-and-shoving match that brought a dozen security and corner men scrambling into the ring,
"Mike grabbed my arm, he was trying to break my arm," Botha
said.
Asked if that was the case, Tyson replied, "He's correct. He
got tough with me and I got tough right back."
Botha, nicknamed the White Buffalo, certainly gave as good as he
got when it came to mauling, and he more than held his own in trash
talking.
"We kept badmouthing each other," said Botha, a 30-year-old
South African living in Newport Beach, Calif. "I don't think you
want to hear what was said."
"He talked more than I did," said Tyson, who was penalized a
point in the second round for excessive holding.
The extent of the tear in Tyson's cloak of intimidation became
clear in the fourth round. Botha stopped and made a mocking gesture
to Tyson to the amusement of many in the announced crowd of 12,519.
"I was trying to psyche him," Botha said. "I feel I was in
control of the fight until I walked into that punch."
The punch caught Botha flush in the face, and he dropped in a
heap. He tried to get up but fell back to the canvas. He struggled
up at the count of seven, but fell into the ropes as referee
Richard Steele signaled the fight over with one second left in the
fifth round. Botha then slumped to the floor.
When discussing future bouts at the post-fight news conference,
Tyson said, "If the price is right, I'll fight a lion."
It took a perfect punch to keep his career from being trampled
by a White Buffalo.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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