Tyson begins fifth comeback attempt

WASHINGTON – Mike Tyson came to the nation’s capital promising a train wreck. His fans – and creditors – can only hope Tyson is not strewn across the tracks when it occurs.

Aging and deeply in debt, Tyson begins the latest version of his ongoing comeback tonight when he meets an Irish heavyweight of little note in a fight that’s officially scheduled for 10 rounds but has little chance of lasting that long.

If anyone is counting, it’s Tyson’s fifth comeback attempt of various sorts since getting out of prison in 1995.

The opponent’s name this time is Kevin McBride, although that matters little to anyone outside McBride’s family even while he enters the ring tonight for the biggest fight of his lackluster career.

Tyson, as usual, is the attraction, but this time the stakes are higher than usual. Another loss to a middling fighter and even Tyson’s die-hard fans may have to start admitting that the soon-to-be 39-year-old is done.

“It seems to me a loss (tonight) ends his career,” said Rock Newman, who guided Riddick Bowe to a heavyweight title and is helping promote this fight. “It would be over.”

Tyson himself seems to realize time may be running short as he enters the ring for the first time since similarly unheralded Danny Williams stopped him in the fourth round July 30 in Louisville.

“It will take time,” said Tyson, who hasn’t beaten a top-notch fighter since his win over Razor Ruddock 14 years ago. “I’m not going to become Iron Mike overnight. But there’s no reason to be in the business unless you want to win a title.”