Outline · [ Standard ] · Linear+ Tyson, Vargas Talking Comebacks? Say It Ain't So, Dan Rafael, ESPN

[Glax0r]

Tyson, Vargas talking comebacks? Say it ain't so

Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Dan Rafael

No, you weren't seeing or hearing things. Yes, that was Mike Tyson standing next to Don King on Saturday night answering questions about a possible comeback. And, yes, that was indeed Fernando Vargas saying on Friday night that he planned to return to the ring.

If it wasn't so depressing, it would almost be funny.

That these two once-outstanding fighters, who are so clearly diminished, would even entertain the notion of another fight is just sad.

At least in Tyson's case, it didn't sound too serious -- although he did leave the door open. Vargas sounded far more serious, assuming you could understand his slurred speech.

Tyson is now 43. His troubles have been well-chronicled. One thing he doesn't need in his life is another fight. But there he was in the ring at the Treasure Island resort in Las Vegas being interviewed on that topic, and others, by Showtime's Jim Gray between title fights that King was promoting. Next to Tyson was King, the promoter Tyson once accused of stealing millions from him.

Their terrible falling out years ago resulted in Tyson filing a $100 million lawsuit against King. It was eventually settled in 2004, with King paying Tyson $14 million, which went toward his bankruptcy reorganization.

"Oh, what a glorious day," King said. "My prodigal son has returned."

You'd never have known about all the bad blood by the way the two were almost swooning over each other.

"I never said anything bad about Mike for all these years because I knew we would get back together someday. Reunited, and it feels so good," King chortled.

In his recent documentary "Tyson," the former heavyweight champ disparaged King, as he has done for years. But Saturday night there were no such harsh words.

"All things pass, and I just felt it was time to mend fences with Don," said Tyson, who provided color commentary for King's Web cast of the undercard fights.

When the subject turned to a possible Tyson comeback, he turned toward King and said, "If this guy is going to pay for my training -- my training team costs a lot of money. I need a lot of minerals and vitamins. Anything is possible. I don't see it happening, but anything is possible. This guy is capable of making a lot of things happen. I don't see it happening, but you never know with this guy."

That's what I'm afraid of.

Tyson, clearly nowhere remotely in fighting condition, added, "I would need to work really hard and take a lot of vitamins, because I'm fat."

Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs) announced his retirement after journeyman Kevin McBride knocked him out in 2005. It was the third time in his final four bouts that Tyson was knocked out. He also was stopped by journeyman Danny Williams in 2004 and was hammered by then-champion Lennox Lewis in a 2002 title fight.

Tyson probably won't fight again, but if anyone could sell him to the public once more it's King, who no doubt sees dollar signs 24/7 when he thinks about a Tyson ring return.

King, however, played it cool about a Tyson comeback.

"I think Mike's one of the greatest fighters that ever lived," King said. "I think he can still be a fighter if he wants to be a fighter. Listen, whatever it is between me and Mike, it ain't about the bankroll. We gonna do what has to be done. He needs a lot vitamins. He needs a lot of TLC, tender loving care, dedication and discipline. So whatever we have to do, we'll do. If you can't hear me, I'll say it a little louder."

The previous night in El Paso, Texas, Vargas showed up at ringside to watch the horrific Hector Camacho Jr.-Yory Boy Campas middleweight fight.

Vargas' reason for being there was to check out Camacho, who has been trying to goad him into a fight for several months. Never mind that Vargas, who was interviewed on the pay-per-view telecast, slurred his speech. Never mind that he had to be more than 200 pounds, which wouldn't be bad for a heavyweight but isn't so good for a guy who fought virtually his entire career at 154 pounds. Even for what he called his farewell fight, Vargas weighed 164 pounds in a loss to Ricardo Mayorga in November 2007.

Vargas (26-5, 22 KOs), a two-time junior middleweight titlist and the youngest man ever to win the 154-pound crown (with a 1998 knockout of Campas), bowed out after three consecutive losses: the decision to Mayorga and two knockouts to Shane Mosley in 2006. In all of his losses, Vargas took punishment. Felix Trinidad brutalized him, and Vargas was never the same. Oscar De La Hoya punished him late in their fight before the nasty stoppage. Mosley crushed him twice.

Vargas, who turns 32 next month but is going to be an old, old 32 in boxing years, knew it was time to go after the Mayorga fight. Now, he's having second thoughts.

"I was very much happily retired and I was in Ohio for some business and Camacho Jr. was going to fight, so I went," Vargas said in the interview. "Camacho Jr. said at the weigh-in, 'After this fight, I want to fight Vargas.' Did he say Vargas? Did he say me? Me being Mexican, my blood got boiled up."

Vargas appeared in the ring with Camacho after he outpointed Campas in a god-awful fight. Camacho taunted Vargas by telling him to get in shape and lose some weight before they would fight.

Asked again about fighting Camacho, Vargas answered, "We're going to see this fight. I feel bad for him. If he wants it, I'm gonna give it to him."

Even if Camacho does want it, let's hope Vargas doesn't give it to him -- or at least that nobody allows this sham to happen.

The same goes for Tyson if King starts to exert the pressure as nobody else can.

Simply three words for Tyson and Vargas, and for any bloodsucker out there who would consider putting them back in the ring: Just say no.

[Dilly]

Tyson won't come back. I read the quote he said something like 'if this guy pays for my training camp anything is possible, I don't think it will happen though'

[CapoScarfo]

Tyson won't come back. I read the quote he said something like 'if this guy pays for my training camp anything is possible, I don't think it will happen though'

I agree...If Tyson stepped into the ring again, he'd cry hug his op and walk back out the ring. Why do people write these articles?

[Dilly]

I agree...If Tyson stepped into the ring again, he'd cry hug his op and walk back  out the ring. Why do people write these articles?

Tyson has said himself he doesn't have the heart to be a fighter anymore and that was well before the McBride fight. Tyson is still living comfortably right now, he doesn't need that...

[Antonious]

this is sad.

[johnnyblaze]

Tyson won't come back. I read the quote he said something like 'if this guy pays for my training camp anything is possible, I don't think it will happen though'

You mean you read the article? Well done.