Tyson out to make big show in comeback

Mike Tyson used to be the meanest toughie on the ring. At 18, he even became the youngest heavyweight champion in the history of the sport.

Then suddenly, he became the meanest toughie off the ring.

"I am the most foolish person I know. I am a fool, but I’m glad to be back," said the 38-year-old pug.

Foolish doesn’t even begin to describe the things Tyson has done off the ring.

First, he was convicted of the rape of a beauty contestant. He got involved in barroom brawls. He squandered close to $300 million in purses. In fact, his bizarre behavior even followed him to his fights.

The most vivid image of heavy-weight boxing is still Tyson chewing off Evander Holyfield’s earlobe.

"I have a checkered past but (the United States) is the greatest country in the world. I certainly deserve a second chance to sweep the past away," Tyson said.

That second chance–which is more like a last chance, really–gets underway July 30 (9 a.m., July 31 in Manila), when Tyson returns to the ring for the start of what could be his last seven matches in his career.

He faces England’s Danny Williams in a fight dubbed "Return for Revenge."

But for what’s at stake for Tyson, it could have very well dubbed "Return for Respect." After all, Tyson has a reputation to polish before he walks into the sunset. Moreover, he needs to pump dollars into his arid bank account, especially with people saying he is nothing but a bankrupt, washed-up heavyweight.

Tyson has been training for the fight, which will be exclusively aired by ABC-5, under Manny Pacquiao honer Freddie Roach.

"I have been training for a few months. You guys (the media) will be the judge of whether I have the eye of the tiger or not," Tyson said.

Tyson (50-4, 44 KOs) will need more that just a tiger’s eye against Williams (31-3, 26 KOs). He needs to regain him the form that made him the youngest heavyweight champ in 1986, when he scored a second-round knockout of Trevor Berbick. Tyson has never held a title since 1996.

He needs to reclaim the title of world’s toughest meanie in the ring. And when he’s done, hopefully he will no longer be the toughest bully off it.