Mike Tyson suffered a fourth-round knockout at the hands of an English journeyman named Danny Williams this weekend. I didn't shell out fifty bucks to buy the fight, but several hundred thousand people did.

Like most boxing fans, I first experienced Mike Tyson on grainy highlight reels obliterating opponent after opponent in the mid-1980s. Word of his exploits in dingy boxing clubs in places like Troy, Latham, and Poughkeepsie, New York spread. The underground phenom became a mainstream sensation with a "Kid Dynamite" Sports Illustrated cover.

Yes, Mike Tyson appealed to us because he destroyed opponents. More importantly, he appealed to us because he seemed a throwback. A student of the sweet science of boxing, the mid-80s Tyson actually came across as a gentleman with an appreciation for the history of his sport. A robeless Tyson entered the ring in simple black trunks and low-cut boots. He didn't just look "bad." He was "bad"--the baddest man on the planet. Employing a peek-a-boo, bobbing, old-school style, Tyson would stalk his prey until a torrent of fury sent them to the canvass. When Tyson defeated Trevor Berbick for the heavyweight championship in 1986, for instance, that marked the thirteenth time he had fought that year. Boxers simply weren't supposed to do that anymore.

That Mike Tyson is gone. Tyson is now thirty-eight. He has five wins (and two no contests) in his last eleven fights. To put things in perspective, he has been fighting professionally for about as long as Muhammed Ali had when he was cut down by Trevor Berbick (one of two common Tyson/Ali opponents) in 1981. Unlike Ali, who could still claim to be "the greatest" when he defeated Leon Spinks to regain the title in 1978, Mike Tyson hasn't been Mike Tyson for a long time.

So when did Iron Mike become Plaster Mike? Some point to Tyson's stint in prison; others to his stunning Tokyo defeat to Buster Douglas. But it really came before all that. Following trainer Cus D'Amato's 1985 death, Tyson's co-manager Jim Jacobs succumbed to cancer in 1988. Soon after, the heavyweight champ fired manager Bill Cayton, his trainer Kevin Rooney, and other handlers. The upstate New York crew that led him to greatness would in time be replaced by the likes of Don King, Robin Givins, and some guy named Crocodile whose main purpose was to shout "guerilla warfare" at Tyson press conferences. A rudderless Tyson continued on course for a while, but inevitably the storm that he enveloped himself in would take him in the wrong direction.

The old-school pugilist disappeared. The street thug, the orphaned teenager, the Bed-Stuy project kid reemerged. Assaults, accusations of spousal abuse, two divorces, a rape conviction, biting Evander Holyfield's ear, a tattoo of Mao Zedong on his chest and a tribal design inked on his face, and a depleted bank account all demonstrated the degree to which Tyson had gone astray. Perhaps more telling were his diminishing boxing skills, which amounted to fighting in bursts without combinations.

Perhaps one of Tyson's early victims, heavyweight great Larry Holmes, knew best. "If he does happen to win the fight," Holmes opined before his defeat to Tyson, "down the line he's going to destroy himself."

So why does Tyson still inspire boxing enthusiasts to pack arenas, casual fans to spend fifty bucks for pay-per-views, and the media to cover him with such interest? We keep hoping that the guy who knocked Michael Spinks into next week will walk through the ropes. Each time he doesn't, our desire to see Iron Mike increases. Boxing fans pay to see Mike Tyson in the way that we return to high school reunions hoping to relive the past, or to vacation-spots where we once had the time of our lives. Things are never the same the second time around. Mike Tyson is proof of this.

This fight could not have been better for a four round fight. Tyson landed a lot of punches early and looked like he was going to end Williams in the second round. Williams kept using his elbows (should have been penalized more than once) and they definitely did a lot of damage. After Tyson took the blow that caused the big cut under his eye, you knew he was on queer street. I thought this was the best fight all weekend until 45 minutes ago when I saw this fat Haitian kid who resembled Amercian Idol's Reuben Stoddard , smash a ceramic plant over this Irish kid's head outside a Faneuill Hall nightclub. The Irish kid was knocked out cold, but his friend came to the rescue challenging six of the Carribean's finest all at once. He faired real well for probably three minutes as he landed solid punches on at least four of the six fellows. But of course, reality had to set in. There were six of them...and one of him. Seeing his strategy work once before, Stoddard picked up another potted plant and blindsided the Irish kid. He stumbled and staggered until Stoddard's girlfriend, probably a doctor or attorney by day, kicked him in the face with her shell toe Timberlands and then proceeded to call the unconscious and pale skinned Irishmen "the N-word" about sixteen times as her allies repeatedly booted the poor kid in the stomach. The cops came after the crowd dispersed so justice was not served. But, if they did arrive on time, I wonder if this would be classified as a hate crime? I hope not as no crime should be elevated to this ridiculous status. But I can assure you that if a group of six white guys, one of them resembling Ryan Seacrest armed with a potted plant, did the same cowardly damage on two Haitian dudes, the bullshit tag of "hate crime" would come up.

Anybody who takes Tyson seriously enough to pay money to watch him fight should have their heads examined.

DAMN. I thought the weapon of choice carried by carribean thugs was a 9MM but maybe these particular street toughs are environmentalist's. Using potted plants as weapons is wrong.....and tough to sneak into a club. Sounds like the fat kid probably hid them on his person.

im wondering if this botanical street tuff was acually caribbean or was this a case of mistaken idenity. Sounds more like the ever popular matt woo?? Were Roger and Joyce "WhiteRain" Tarabelli in the area?? Lets futher investigate the crime scene!

Bob, your attempt at humor is sad and blatantly unfunny. Please remember there is a fine line between cleaver and stupid. And you sound like an expert in the latter.

And an even finer line between Wally and the Beaver.

What exactly is a hate crime? I mean... if you assault someone you pretty much have to hate them. At least at that moment. Personally: I don't discriminate, I hate everyone equally!

Sean,

This $hite happens all of the time. Certain groups will NEVER square off for a toe to toe unless the odds are overwhelmingly in their favor. That’s why it’s usually guns or knives as the weapons of choice when numbers won’t do.

Even if the cops had arrived on time (amazing how “after the fact” these guys are), you would not be reading about this one anywhere in our local papers because of the huge double standard when it relates to incidences of this nature. This must be part of reparations for all of those terrible years of slavery and, of course, the more politically correct thing to do.

Funny thing is, when others forefathers were toiling in the fields as slaves in some parts of the world, the Irish kid’s forefathers were toiling in fields for some British Lord. Slavery is slavery no matter what gene pool you’re in.

I’m still waiting for my check and apology.

Nice touch to have the girlfriends join in on the fun when the kid is down and out.

That ought to learn him.

Too bad the Revs. Al and Jesse weren’t there for a courtesy whack.

thanks for the insite Doug! In the future have a clue of what is being spoken and stop trying to be the judge and jury as to what is humor and what isnt when you havent a clue as to what is being said you Blog Whore! Get a life and mind your business!

Have a clue on wht is being spoken? No one knows what the hell you are trying to convey or talk about you ingnorate knob. Mind my own business? A blog is a public forum for discussion on host of different topics you moron. You want privacy go in your bathroom and make sure people knock when they enter you twisted little chain puller.

Hey computer tough guy watch your mouth! talk to me again like that and i will hunt you down and help you figure out when to keep your mouth shut! My "humor" was pointed towards people who actually understood what i was talking about and like you said this is a public forum and i can and will write what i wish. this is the last i will speak on this so be a smart man and go blow yourself.

Sorry Bobby, my intention wasn't to make you cry. Be strong. You'll get threw this.