By Nigel Clarke

Recent talks of a Tyson and Tarver clash for 2006 have the Tyson zombies infecting boxing forums all over the Internet. Tyson says that if he fights Tarver, it will be his last fight. I don't plan on paying $50 dollars to watch this fight, but I will tune in for the sake of nostalgia and hope that if it is indeed Tyson's last fight, that he will go out with class. 

When I heard that Mike was planning on being trained by Jeff Fenech, I began thinking that IF he actually trains hard and gets into boxing condition, he might be able to beat Tarver. I suddenly realized that I had been infected with the dreaded “IF” condition that now plagues boxing forums all over the Internet.

Go to any boxing forum and there is bound to be a thread asking “IF” questions about Tyson’s career and his place in boxing history.

IF…….

………Cus D’Amato did not pass away when Mike’s career was beginning. There is no doubt about it, Mike would have been a more accomplished boxer and focused individual if Cus hadn’t passed. Although he was a brilliant young fighter while training with Cus, he (Mike) was still a student of the sport and had much more to learn from his boxing mentor.

……….Mike never married Robin Givens. I think we all agree that Mike would have been much better off without ever dealing with Ms. Givens. Their tumultuous relationship came at one of the most disturbing times in Mike’s life during 1988. There was Tyson’s involvement in a Harlem street fight with Mitch Green and his suicide attempt by way of crashing his BMW into a tree. Where was his supportive wife? During a television interview, she claimed that Mike was a manic-depressive and that she lived in constant fear of him.

…………Mike was never convicted of rape. He would have been a part of the great heavyweight era in the early nineties. We would have seen him fight Riddick Bowe, George Forman and engage in a much earlier meeting with Evander Holyfield. He would have certainly been in the mix of things and possibly participated in some great fights. More than anything, he would have gained more experience and his skills would not have been eroded by ring rust.

………….He actually trains hard, he can be a force in the heavyweight division. Mike hasn’t trained seriously for a fight in years. Before his fight with Lennox Lewis in 2002, his former trainer Tommy Brooks made an observation about Mike’s condition going into the fight. He said “Mike is in shape, but is he in boxing condition?” This statement was made knowing that Mike was not in condition to fight. If Mike had been a disciplined fighter who took his training seriously throughout the years, he would have definitely won more fights and held the heavyweight belts longer.

………….If Mike would have fought some great heavyweight in his prime. There is no denying that Mike was one of the most amazing heavyweights to win a championship belt. At age twenty he possessed lightening quick reflexes and tremendous knockout power. Say what you want, but in his prime, Mike could have given any great heavyweight a good fight, if not beating them

If all of these things happened, Mike would not be the intriguing figure that is discussed by boxing fans today.  He wouldn’t be the figure that people look back on years from now and debate his place in boxing history.