February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
The Clones Colossus was the original pick for Tyson’s come-back fight in Muhammad Ali’s hometown, but the former champion’s brain trust, after promising McBride close to $500,000 for the contest, opted for the cheaper, albeit more dangerous Williams.
It’s a decision Tyson advisor Shelly Finkel was probably ruing after Williams, a 6-foot-3, 265-pounder Londoner who once held the European title, left Tyson senseless on the canvas after four brutal rounds at Freedom Hall.
“I know that they tried to save money. But then they ended up getting beat,” McBride’s manager Rich Capiello noted from Boston last Sunday.
Capiello, however, revealed that Finkel had left a phone message for him after the Louisville fight.
Capiello, who will return the call this week, speculated at the reason for Finkel’s call.
“I won’t be surprised if we fit right back in there,” he said. “Kevin may still get that opportunity [to fight Tyson].”
A Tyson-McBride is very plausible, even though most boxing pundits have written off the 38-year-old Tyson after his latest defeat.
Money, or lack thereof on Tyson’s part, is the primary reason boxing’s bad boy is likely to fight again once the ligament he tore in his left knee during the bout heals.
He owes an assortment of creditors, including the IRS and a former wife, a reported $38 million, and the fact that he was able to attract over 17,000 fans for the Williams fight means that he remains popular – diminished as his skills may be.
Tyson-McBride in Ireland, Boston or even New York’s Madison Square Garden on St. Patrick’s Day could be huge.
McBride, a 6-foot-6 native of Clones with a 31-4-1 (26 KOs) ledger, both the Irish titlist and holder of the fringe IBC Americas heavyweight belt.
Based in Brockton, Mass, the 31-year-old’s last bout was a third round TKO of Marcus Rhode in Boston last December.
FRANTIC WAYNE
How desperate is Wayne McCullough for a fight? So desperate that he’s willing to fight for free.
“I would fight for free if it meant getting back in the ring because I only need one fight to prove that my last fight was totally out of character for me,” the Las Vegas-based McCullough said last week.
He was alluding to his points loss to WBO featherweight champ Scott Harrison in March 2003.
“If a promoter is willing to put me on a show I am ready – and if I don’t put on a good show then don’t pay me!
“I just need someone to give me the opportunity to get back into the ring and I will prove that I can be a world champion again. I will fight any of the champions at my weight and beat them. I know that, but I need an opening.”
McCullough’s manager and wife Cheryl said her husband was itching to get back into the ring but, according to every promoter she’s contacted, there are no available dates for the ex-world champion.
“Since Wayne’s loss [against Harrison] everyone seems to have forgotten what he once was — Olympic silver medallist, WBC bantamweight Champion, Irish warrior, best chin in boxing, to name a few,” she observed.
“Maybe now they think he is a has-been, but Wayne still has a lot to prove,” she added.
McCullough, who’s 34, has a 24-4 (17 KOs) professional record.