The end came with the shocking suddenness of many Mike Tyson fights. First, the flurry of devastating punches, then a fighter falling bleeding to the canvas.
Even more shocking was that fighter was Tyson himself.
PHOTO: REUTERS
A comeback born out of financial desperation didn't go past the fourth round Friday night when an unheralded British heavyweight by the name of Danny Williams knocked Tyson out with a savagery that may have once and for all exposed Tyson as a shot fighter.
At the age of 38, Tyson ran out of energy after trying to put Williams down for the first three rounds and was driven to the canvas with a final right hand that may have signaled the end of his hopes to become a serious heavyweight contender again.
"Once I hurt him I just let go," Williams said. "I just kept punching and punching."
Beaten and battered, Tyson laid helplessly along the ropes, blood flowing down his face. The former baddest man on the planet stared ahead with a look of resignation on his face as his latest comeback -- and perhaps his tumultuous career -- collapsed along with him.
In his corner, Tyson apologized to his trainer. Across the ring, Williams celebrated and then proposed to his girlfriend -- who accepted.
And somewhere, lawyers began trying to figure out how Tyson could pay off US$38 million in debt when his asking price will surely plunge after such a devastating defeat.
"People forget this isn't a peak Mike Tyson. This was a Mike Tyson who was 38 years old," Williams said. "I thought I could win."
Williams ended a wild slugfest with a flurry of punches that sent Tyson sprawling into the ropes late in the fourth round. With blood streaming down his face, Tyson appeared to contemplate the end, then made a halfhearted effort to get up before the fight was called to an end at 2:51 of the fourth round.
"I'm sorry. I'm disappointed," Tyson told trainer Freddie Roach.
"You don't have to be sorry with me," Roach replied.
Tyson's handlers said later he injured his knee late in the first round. He was taken to a hospital to get stitches for a cut near the corner of his right eye and a precautionary CT scan.
The fight was a free-for-all from the opening bell before an excited crowd at a nearly full Freedom Hall. Tyson landed some huge left hooks early, only to take punishment himself when Williams got over his initial stage fright and began brawling.
Tyson tried with every punch to score the kind of spectacular knockout that would make him a heavyweight contender once again.
But Williams weathered the storm and then came back to dish out more punishment.
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