It's time for boxing to deliver final blow

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Summer Wildcat Dan Rosen

This is a name that struck fear into those who had the courage to step into the ring with this menacing fighter from Catskills, N.Y. Ask Michael Spinks, who lasted all of 90 seconds in the ring with him. Or, maybe ask Marvis Frazier, the son of boxing great Joe Frazier, who was destroyed in 29 seconds. Donovan "Razor" Ruddock is another poor slob Tyson unleashed his fury on, breaking his jaw in one of the two encounters that they had.

Tyson was the dominating figure in heavyweight boxing from the mid 80's to the mid 90's.

In the late 80's, Tyson looked indestructible in the ring, but was actually destroying himself inside. His mentor, the late Cus D'Amato, passed away, leaving Tyson basically stranded. Tyson lost the heavyweight title to James "Buster" Douglas in the biggest upset in heavyweight history in 1990. He was never the same afterward.

Tyson was brought up on rape charges in 1991, and after maintaining his innocence, was sentenced to six years in prison after being found guilty in an Indiana court of law. Tyson served three years of his sentence, and was released because of good behavior.

Boxing gave Tyson a second chance.

I remember watching his first fight back against "Hurricane" Peter McNeely. I was so excited that he was fighting again and that it would be the same old Mike. Tyson ended up beating this scrub, but not in convincing fashion. Every fight since he has been released from prison was against a scrub or a fake (see the "Atlantic City Express" Bruce Seldon), until he met up with "The Real Deal" Evander Holyfield. Holyfield dominated in every aspect of the fight and ended up knocking Tyson out in the 11th round. Tyson looked beaten after the fight. This was the first time that I had ever seen the look of absolute defeat on this man's face.

Holyfield gave him a rematch, Tyson accepted and they fought again. This time Tyson was getting beat so bad that he had to result to biting Holyfield's ear not once, but twice. Tyson was ultimately disqualified and his purse was withheld pending an investigation. Tyson was eventually fined 10 percent of his purse, $3 million, and the Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended his license for one year.

If Tyson ever wanted to fight again he would have to re-apply for his license in any state and go before their athletic commission for a character hearing. Tyson re-applied, not in Nevada, but in New Jersey. He called all these people before him to testify that he was sorry for what he did and how his character has so greatly improved. But, as Tyson was being grilled by the commission, he blew up and shouted an obscenity. He withdrew his application from New Jersey, allegedly due to rumors that he would have failed to get approval for re-application. He has reportedly said that now he will try to re-apply in Nevada.

This to me is evidence that this man is not ready to fight. Not withstanding the fact that his skills have diminished greatly over the years, this man is not psychologically recovered from this last incident with Holyfield.

Now, I know people are going to say; What is he supposed to do now? He can't do anything else but fight? How about getting an education for a change. People like us college students are working our asses of trying to be the best we can be with the ability that we possess. Tyson has thrown away his God-given ability to fight and now he, like everyone else, should have to pay the price for throwing away his opportunities.

Should boxing give Tyson a third chance?

Absolutely not!

Mike Jenkins can be reached via e-mail at Mike.Jenkins@wildcat.arizona.edu.