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Showtime PPV has changed a lot since the days Mike Tyson bounced into MGM in the dark for DMX.
The network premiered its Pay Per View on October 29. It’s a long way from the days of the great “Iron” Mike.
In January 1999, Tyson walked to the ring with bad intentions for his fight with Frans Botha at the famous MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“The Baddest Man in the World” returns for the first time since serving a suspension for biting Evander Holyfield in their 1997 rematch.
Mike Tyson ring walk vs Frans Botha
Tyson entered the ring to ‘Intro’ by the late singer DMX from the album, ‘It’s Dark and Hell’s Hot’ as the MGM crowd fell into a stunned silence.
You could almost hear a pin drop as Showtime executives tried to comment when they didn’t know who DMX was.
“Tyson is going through something scary and putting on music,” they said. “Can he scare his opponent tonight?
“Is it even a problem?”
It was chilling in the spine for the game as they welcomed the biggest gainer at that time. Even after 23 years, it still resonates to this day.
Dressed up as a minion
With that being said, seeing a boxer walk into his PPV spotlight wearing a suit when the man leading the event brings out a Transformer to fight leaves something to be desired as to where the sport we like to go is headed.
Definitely not the direction it should be. Who is to blame for that is another matter.
Promoter Lou DiBella believes the people who run the games are to blame.
“Boxing has created its own laundry list of problems. This is the result of what we have done to reduce the games for ourselves, taking advantage of the debris that we have created.”
Back in 1999, boxing seemed a little easier, even with the controversy Tyson and others brought with it.
Eventually we will have the best with the best, if not sooner. After Tyson sent Botha humiliatingly, it was another two years before he fought Lennox Lewis.
Mike Tyson era
At the time, and because of the time he had to serve the ban, Tyson admitted that he was still not ready.
“I was a little embarrassed. I want to shine tonight. It takes time. It takes time. Rome was not built in a day. I have to improve a lot. I have a long way to go.
“I do not mind. I know I’m going to knock it out. It’s just a matter of time,” said the young heavyweight champion.
We long for days like this to come back as we are stuck with the crappy stuff that showcases the untalented who bet as boxers.
The opinions expressed in this article are the opinions of Phil Jay.
WBN editor Phil Jay has over a decade of boxing news experience. Follow WBN on Facebook @officialworldboxingnews, Instagram, and Twitter @world news.
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