Tyson Is Back and Boxing will be as well.
By Tom Mauriello, Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent-Ringside
Verona, NY (August 24th, 2013)–
The title of Friday Nights Friday Night Fights card on ESPN from the Turning Point Casino in Verona NY read Tyson Is Back, and if he has anything to say about it, boxing will follow. Tyson sent a clear message to his fighters, and fans following his promotional debut.
When asked if he was looking to get his fighters bigger paydays and a bigger playing field he said no. Tyson’s concern is “to give good and exciting fights. For the fans to become more excited about the fights. By doing it this way it will lead to bigger pay days.” Tyson said that “I can’t give someone a big pay that doesn’t deserve it.”
For the stable of fighters with Iron Mike Promotions, you know this is true after watching this card, as only one fighter from Tyson’s camp, Alexei Collado (17-0 (16KO’s)came home with a win. Collado set forth a vicious pace and brutal body attack that ended with the referee stopping the action in the 5th round.
The next Tyson fighter to come to the ring was Claudio Marrero (14-1(11KO’s) Marrero would face Argentinean Jesus Cueller in an all out war that proved with out a shadow of a doubt, that Tyson is looking to create fan friendly fights. You were able to see that each fighter was game from Round 1 right down to the final bell. The two men traded heavy leather, both seeming to be hurt each other numerous times. Marrero was looking to be slick, counter and move, as Cueller stayed disciplined and stalked the faster fighter putting hard pressure on Marrero, forcing him to fight outside of his comfort zone. Marrero’s body language was odd and was trying to show he was ahead just stepping away and turning his back on the ultra aggressive fighter. He was punished for this each time he did it, and was forced into a dogfight. In round 6 a vicious combination put Marrero through the ropes scoring a knockdown for Cueller. The fight would turn into an all out war, after that with both fighters throwing caution to the wind, looking for that big punch. It would never come and Cueller would take home the WBA featherweight title, in what can be considered a fight of the year candidate.
Tyson’s camp had no luck in the main event either, as heavy favorite Argenis Mendez (21-2-1(11KO’s) would retain his IBF Junior Lightweight title as a result of a draw against another super aggressive fighter Arash Usmanee (20-1-1(10KO’s). It was clear to me that Mendez was the better fighter landing punches with ease countering many of the punches Usmanee would throw. Mendez was being forced to the ropes similar to Marreo but his savvy skills and countering where light years away from his stable mate. Usmanee continued to try and bully, but hit nothing but air in many of the rounds, while being crushed with hard hooks as he left himself wide open to the superior skill of Mendez. Usmanee’s bullying technique seemed to catch the judges eyes though, as fight fans where left very disappointed with the verdict of a draw.
Tyson would go on to say that “Regardless of the outcome, what they did for boxing overcame their personal feelings. Its bigger for what they believe, it was bigger then them. We did not like the decision tonight, the champion and challenger did not like the decision but the decision was great for boxing and that’s bigger then all of us.”
This is an amazing statement coming from a promoter. Mike is not in this to get wealthy, he said he will never be wealthy again due to the hole he has dug for himself with his past mistakes in life. He is in this position to make exciting fights for the fans and through that, get his fighters paydays due to their efforts in the ring.
Mike may be playing with fire considering that neither of his main event fighters came home with a win. But as Tyson said, BOXING came home with a win.
It is about time that a promoter can leave his ego at the door, and think about the sport above all.
Many news outlets are speaking about Tyson lying about his sobriety, as well as his quote of being a dark violent person who no longer wishes to try and kill everyone, including himself. This statement masks the true underlying story that Tyson, being “as happy as a homosexual in prison” can amount into an amazing promoter and savior of the sport. Tyson’s selfless effort to will bring excitement back to Boxing.
Tyson also went on to say “I am 6 days sober, and that is a miracle to me.” Tyson’s sobriety has come from his re-kindled love affair with Boxing. The big story to come home with is that Mike is looking out for the Sport; The Sport that was once so great to him. Mike would say “I can give to boxing what boxing gave to me. Give people coming from horrible neighborhoods an opportunity to come in and make money in boxing.” Tyson wants these people to take care of their families and go home safe.”
Here you have a man who was robbed and used by the ugliest man sports has ever seen, who saw Mike not as a person, but as dollar signs ($$$$). You have a man who has lived the ugly part of this business, losing out on millions of dollars due to his promoter, now looking to make sure that does not happen to others. Nobility is an understatement when it comes to Iron Mike Promotions. Mike Tyson is a student of the game, as well as one of its most memorable fighters, but his humble nature is astonishing. He still puts himself on the bottom of the list when it comes to the elite heavyweights in boxing history. Tyson said in the post fight press conference “If Cus D’Amato where to have me in a room with no cameras, he would tell me what I was doing was entertainment, all those brutal knock outs where entertainment not fighting.” Mr. Tyson went on to say, “That’s not fighting. What Ali and Frazier do is fighting, what I do is knocking people out, all those one punch knockouts is entertainment. When you put your life on the line and don’t want to fight no more, but you keep fighting and keep fighting, and you don’t even think you could win but you keep fighting, now that’s fighting. What I do is not fighting, it may have been great but it aint what Ali and Frazier be doing, it aint fighting.”
Folks, this is Iron Mike Tyson saying that he is “not a fighter”. Tyson has now taken up his roll as an educator, via the position of promoting. He is looking to show fans around the world, and not just the Catskill region, what fighting is. His message will be clearly stated through his stable of tough fighters.
As a member of press row, I was blown away by the show Tyson put on. Young talent such as the quick and relentless Antoine Douglas, who put on a boxing clinic, to Argenis Mendez who stood and fought like a true warrior for peanuts compared to the elite of Top Rank and Golden Boy. Boxing is built off warriors, and Tyson is the most memorable warrior of our time. He has hand picked younger warriors to fit his bill and carry his name. Though Caludio Marrero was defeated last night, he went out on his shield and fought diligently to the final bell in fear of losing his title, and for letting down Mike Tyson. The men in Tyson’s camp are fighting with pride and valor, something that has left this sport many years ago and has been replaced with dollar signs. Mike Tyson is looking to bring back big fights, where men are fighting for the love of the sport and not the paycheck. Mike understands that with big fights, and a warrior mentality, the paychecks will come.
Many will argue that this is silly, and will not work in the current state of boxing. For those of you who think this way I ask you what you feel about a potential match-up between Yuriorkis Gamboa and Argenis Mendez. Even with a draw, however awful that decision may have been, Mendez is now in line for a big payday against his divisional rival. Fighters have often earned more in defeat than others have taken home in victory. If all of Mike’s fighters fight as Collado, Marrero and Mendez did last night, the boxing world is set to see a new big dog when it comes to promotion, and a new way of fighting in the ring. Tyson would say in the press conference “You want to see fighters hurt each other, this is what we are in, we are in the hurt business and this is what we do, and this is what we are paid to do. I’m trying to arrange for my fighters to be better than anyone in the world.” With that attitude, they certainly will be. The best of luck to you, Champ. I look forward to supporting you, your fighters, and of course, the return of the great sport of Boxing.
Follow me on Twitter @OfficialT_Mauri
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