On This Day: ‘Mike Tyson tried to bite my nipple off’

[Ruthless-RKO]

On this day, June 11, 2005 Kevin McBride handed Mike Tyson his last loss. He recounts the event in his own words.

From McBride,

I idolized him [Mike Tyson] and Muhammad Ali since the age of nine. That was one of the best nights of my life because not only did I beat Tyson, I also met Ali on the same night.

His daughter [Laila] fought on the card and after I’d won, she said Ali wanted to talk to me. He whispered in my ear, “You’re the latest, I’m the greatest.”

But Tyson, even though he wasn’t training like he used to, he still hit very hard. But I beat Tyson with tactics, by using my strength and weight and leaning on him and pushing him around.

I can still feel the shots today. I was very bruised after that fight. But I was on a mission to win and thank God I did win. It showed that the underdog can win. That’s the beauty of boxing. And he quit on his stool, against Kevin McBride – who would ever have believed it? Twenty years from now I’ll still be talking about it. I made a little bit of history and I’ll take that win with me to my grave.

I wasn’t afraid of anyone. What’s the worst that can happen? You get put to sleep. I never had fear, I believed I’d win. I’d dreamt of this moment since I was a kid; I’d always said I’d love to fight Mike Tyson. And like I said at the time, I might be slow, but if I land on you, I have heavy hands. I spoke to Tyson in the sixth round. I said, ‘Is that all you’ve got?’

I told him he was in trouble. But then he tried to bite my nipple off. I pulled back and his mouthpiece slipped off my nipple. Thank God he had the mouthpiece in, or I’d be the only guy in Ireland with just one nipple.

I think I’d have definitely knocked him out [if he had not retired on his stool]. His energy was really sapping. But Tyson quit instead. But even at the very end, he was hitting very hard. Also, I must give credit to Goody Petronelli, he gave me great help in the corner – the great trainer of the great Marvin Hagler.

[Kalan]

McBride can hang his hat on that "victory" if he wants to.. I'd rather recall his fight with Mariusz Wach, who blasted McBride into a coma with one brutal right.. That was going to be McBride's last fight, obviously, and the wasn't sorely missed.

What goes around comes around.. McBride was selected as an "opponent" for an aging Tyson because he was very easy to beat.. McBride couldn't box or punch well and he was right in front of Tyson where he was very easy to hit.. Mike was just a lot further down the road than anyone realized.. As far as biting his nipple??? Mike disrespected McBride to the max ... "This was my last fight.. I'm not going to disrespect Boxing by losing to fighters of that caliber." And Mike did quit in his corner... The worst thing possible is an ATG Heavyweight getting knocked out by somebody he wouldn't hire for a sparring partner.