NEW YORK: Mike Tyson, who demolished Michael Spinks in 91 seconds to retain his World Heavyweight Title on Monday said in an interview published on Wednesday he was retiring.
After the fight Tyson, who turns 22 on Thursday, suggested at a news conference he was considering retiring.
In an interview with the New York Post on Tuesday, published on Wednesday. The champion said it was now definite.
“You can’t never say never,” the soft spoken powerhouse said, “but as of today J am retired”.
Tyson, who at 20 became the youngest heavyweight champion ever, said he knew people did not believe he could quit.
“I heard (promoter) Don King and his guys laughing, but I was serious”, said the champion, who earned at least 20 million dollars for his first round
Knockout of Spinks. “Yeah, King was laughing, but when he finds out I’m serious, he won’t be laughing”.
Tyson is aware of the long list of great fighters such as Sugar Ray Leonard and Mohammad Ali who announced retirement only to return to the ring.
“They think I can’t stay retired, but I can do it. If I want to do it, even though I love it, I can stop fighting cold turkey,” Tyson told The Post.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 8, 1988
