Mike Tyson: Will Fight For Food

By Mark Hoerrner

It’s a common story—local boy does well, makes money, buys flashy cars, expensive home, blows cash on gold-plated dentistry and makes snacks out of the ears of opponents. Ok, that last part is not that common, but it does accurately describe the career of boxing’s most notorious son, Mike Tyson. The hammer-hand with the falsetto voice, Tyson is coming back to the ring for that most noble of causes: filling up his bank account.

In the same way that pop-rapper M.C. Hammer tossed away a mountain of money, Tyson has reportedly burned through nearly $300 million in earnings from his years in the ring. Now destitute, he’s hoping his public following will emerge to aid him in his time of financial need.

It was not that long ago that Tyson climbed in the ring with another boxing legend—Evander Holyfield—and demonstrated that despite several years of hardened incarceration, he still had no class or sportsmanship whatsoever. As evidenced by a laundry list of criminals playing in the National Football League and other professional sports organizations, sports fans are a forgiving lot as long as there’s blood to be had, and Tyson is a consummate gladiator.

Boxing promoter Sterling McPherson recently announced that Tyson, 40, will step into the ring to fight Corey "T-Rex" Sanders, a longtime friend and sparring partner.

The televised match will not be a ranked event for Tyson, but other officially sanctioned bouts will be on the menu.

"I think the greatest thing Tyson can do for himself is to do this, go around the world and meet people who have never met a star or an icon like Tyson," McPherson told ESPN. "And the prices will be right. Here in Youngstown, the top ticket is $200. That used to be the cheapest ticket for a Tyson fight. Here, you're talking about tickets for $25. Where can you see Tyson in the ring for $25?"

Whether or not Tyson will be worth the ticket price is still anyone's guess. The last time Tyson fought, he tanked after just six rounds against Kevin McBride.

Tyson then went into retirement.

"I truly hate fighting. I've got a bad taste in my mouth," Tyson told The Associated Press.

It's probably just someone he ate.