Tyson's Swan Song

WASHINGTON, DC - Mike Tyson's controversial boxing career came to an inglorious end here Saturday when the former world heavyweight champion quit after the sixth round against journeyman Kevin McBride and ended his comeback.

Tyson, who told his Irish foe before the fight he would "gut him like a fish", said after surrendering to McBride that he no longer had the courage to be more than a disgarce to the sport.

"I don't have the guts to fight anymore," Tyson said. "I do not want to disrespect the sport I love."

Tyson fell to 50-6 with his third loss in his past four fights, one that likely writes the final chapter to a checkered career that includes rape and assault convictions.

"I'm sorry for the fans who paid for this," Tyson said. "I wish I could have done better."

Referee Joe Cortez halted the bout after a wild sixth round which ended with Tyson hesistatingly rising and walking to his corner after being pushed down on his rear by McBride.

McBride rose to 33-4 with one drawn, winning for the eighth time in a row.

"This win was for the pride of Ireland," McBride said. "I proved everyone wrong."

Tyson gave up after his tough tactics early in the sixth round, including pinning McBride's left arm and a head-butt that opened a cut under McBride's left eye - a violation that resulted in a two-point Tyson deduction by Cortez.

McBride complained to Cortez about Tyson's tactics, an answer to the larger McBride's desire to continually clinch and pound the smaller Tyson with uppercuts.

At the end of the round, McBride had Tyson against the ropes and pounded him before shoving him to a seating position. Tyson sat on the mat, stayed well after the bell ending the round and slowly walked to his corner for the final time in his career.

Two judges had Tyson leading 57-55 after six rounds while the third had McBride, 32, ahead by the same margin.

Tyson, who turns 39 on June 30, made his farewell in his first fight since last July, when he suffered a fourth-round knockout loss to Britain's Danny Williams.

Tyson began the fourth round with a flurry of damaging punches to McBride's head and body but the stunned Irishman weathered the storm and by late in round five had Tyson pinned against the ropes, hammering him with hard inside blows.

Once McBride escaped the fury, Tyson had little left, a similar situation to the pounding he took before biting Evander Holyfield's ears in a title fight.

McBride, the tallest and heaviest foe Tyson has faced, had superior size and reach but continually clinched to avoid the punishing power punches in Tyson's arsenal and attacked in turn with uppercuts.

McBride, 32, was warned for grabbing Tyson behind the head in round one and Tyson was warned for a slightly low blow in round two.

Karl Foster
East Coast Correspondent

Information from other publications and wire services was used in the compilation of this report.