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Iron Mike melting in desert?
And military buffs should remember what happened to the pride of the German fleet in 1941. It sunk.
Tyson, the former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, officially weighed in yesterday at 218 pounds, traditionally his best fighting weight and four pounds lighter than when he first faced Evander Holyfield last Nov. 9.
Holyfield also tipped the scales at 218, representing his top weight for a professional fight.
So, from a physical point of view, Tyson may have an edge heading into tomorrow night's WBA world heavyweight battle at the MGM Grand Hotel. He's still the 2-1 favorite.
But looks can be deceiving and word blowing through the Nevada desert yesterday was that Iron Mike is wilting under the pressure and that may play into the hands of Holyfield, who won the WBA belt over Tyson last November with a convincing 11th-round technical knockout.
"It all comes down to how you handle the pressure," said Holyfield, the quiet ring warrior. "As far as talent is concerned, we're equals in ability and strength.
"But I've always known that pressure busts fights and I thank God for giving me the peace of mind to overcome pressure," the man known as The Real Deal said.
Holyfield, 33-3 with 24 KOs, certainly has appeared relaxed all week, working out in front of his fans, spending endless hours talking to the media and even announcing a new clothing line and charitable endeavor.
That comes in stark contrast to Tyson's activities. All week, the former world king, who has lost only twice in 47 pro bouts, has trained in privacy and has avoided chance media encounters like the plague.
Insiders are whispering that Tyson is sweating. And then came word early yesterday morning that the native of Brooklyn's mean streets would pull out of tomorrow's $200-million US extravaganza in protest of Vegas resident Mitch Halpern being named as the referee for the rematch. Halpern was the third man in the ring for the Nov. 9 bout.
In a statement released earlier, Tyson's co-manager John Horne said: "Mike Tyson absolutely cannot fight if Mitch Halpern is the third man in the ring. Although Mr. Halpern may be a promising referee, we do not feel comfortable with him as the referee for a fight of this importance and magnitude. In the first fight, I feel that the fight became too physical for him to control and I do not believe it is fair for Mike Tyson to enter the ring with anything other than 100% focus on the fight."
The 5-foot-10, 155-pound Halpern has officiated 38 championship fights. Horne added that Team Tyson would not protest "any other" ref the Nevada State Commission appointed.
The commission voted 4-1 last to night to retain Halpern for the fight.
There was speculation that Tyson's refusal to fight under Halpern's care was, in essence, a demonstration of fear, that boxing's bully was, in fact, intimidated. Tyson's trainer Richie Giachetti scoffed at those suggestions.
"Look, if you don't have the heart of a fighter, Mickey Mouse will intimidate you," the colorful Giachetti said. "And Mike has heart. Believe me."