Mike Tyson's last opponent warns Jake Paul he still feels effects of his unbelievable punching power 19 years later
11/09/2024 10:21 PM
Almost two decades on from their infamous showdown in Washington DC, Kevin McBride is still very much feeling the power of Mike Tyson.
In June of 2005, the little-known Irishman shocked the world and send ‘Iron Mike’ into retirement, not just from the fight but from boxing as a whole. It would take the heavyweight icon until this year, at the age of 58, to come back for a full professional bout, only taking two exhibitions in the meantime.
But even though McBride won on the night, he says that the punches he felt that night have stuck with him. Now working as a paver, he has warned Jake Paul that there are still times that he feels the power of Tyson, almost 20 years since they stepped in the ring.
- Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson: How to watch, live stream, start time, full card and rules
Kevin McBride made Mike Tyson quit boxing, until now
The date was June 11 2005 when Kevin McBride earned the biggest win of his life against one of the greatest of all time; Mike Tyson. While the story has been rewritten to indicate that ‘Iron Mike’ was far past his best, he still packed a serious punch, which had the Monaghan native in trouble throughout.
“It was like a Cinderella story for me,” he told Bloody Elbow in an exclusive chat. “Everybody said there was no way I had a chance to beat Mike Tyson because with his career and what he’s achieved, but I had a different plan in my mind.
“I trained very hard for eight weeks and I even had a hypnotist work with me so that every time he would hit me I’d be smiling. I was smiling a lot! People don’t realize even when I was fighting him people ask ‘what was going through your head?’ I say ‘What the hell did I get myself into?’
“He ain’t no joke and I would have fought him for free. I was offered small money, maybe $150,000, but I couldn’t care less about that, I just wanted to get in the ring with him, it wasn’t about money at all for me when it came to Mike Tyson.”
And not only did McBride get in the ring with Tyson, but he managed to make him quit on his stool after round six. He floored the legend with Muhammad Ali watching at ringside, and made one of the world’s toughest men decide that he could no longer fight.
Kevin McBride still feels the power of Mike Tyson
However, he has a word of warning for Jake Paul as he prepares to face Tyson on Friday night. The bout has proved controversial over the 31-year age gap between the competitors, but the legendary heavyweight still packs one of the biggest punches on the planet.
“Jake Paul is a young kid,” he said, noting the 27-year-old’s inexperience relative to his 58-year-old opponent. “He has youth with him but Mike Tyson’s power is unbelievable. I still feel it to this day, more than 19 years later.
“He hits so hard and power is the last thing to go. George Foreman proved that against Michael Moorer. Sure he was a bit younger than Mike is now but power-wise it is one of the biggest punches in history and he can probably knock Jake out.”
If Mike Tyson pulls out, McBride will be happy to step in and have a shot at Jake Paul
The bout between Paul and Tyson is one of the most anticipated of the year, helped by a build-up that has lasted since it was announced in March. The pair were due to compete on July 20, but the YouTuber was forced to face Mike Perry instead after Tyson suffered a health scare that had him fearing for his life.
And should a similar issue arise during fight week, McBride would happily dust off his gloves and get in there with Paul. He last competed in 2011, and ended his career on a three-fight losing run, but reckons he has enough to stop the social media star.
“I’m 51-years-old myself and if Tyson pulled out again I would fly down in the morning,” he admitted. “I would actually jump in the ring with Jake Paul and I’ll tell you what, I have the power to put him away too because my power has not gone away.
“I work with this guy now Mathias and I do paving, I must have lost 50lb this summer and I’d be able to make weight again. If Tyson beats Jake Paul then it’s not a bad idea if he wants to avenge his loss against the Irishman and we could get in the ring again.”
