BoxRec

AP wrote: PHOENIX (AP) -- Mike Tyson was sprawled on his back on the canvas, not the kind of place you want to be if you're a fighter, much less the former baddest man on the planet.

A day after his 38th birthday, his back was in spasms and his face was contorted in pain.

Tyson wanted his sparring session this day to be a good one. Two visiting writers were watching and he was determined to be impressive.

Instead, he was a bit embarrassed about how it ended.

``Sorry you had to see something bad,'' he said. ``I really wanted to box good for you guys.''

Tyson has a lot to apologize for, but there was nothing to be sorry about this day at the Central Boxing Club near downtown Phoenix.

He had gone five hard rounds with two rugged sparring partners before the back spasms he had felt earlier in the day while running flared up. So he quit in the middle of the sixth round.