Rooney Says Tyson Wasn’t Ready, Puts the Blame on Don King, Trainers

Kevin Rooney, Mike Tyson’s former trainer, blamed Tyson’s showing against Buster Douglas on the champion’s co-trainers Aaron Snowell and Jay Bright and on adviser Don King.

“Mike acted like he didn’t want to fight,” Rooney said Sunday in Catskill, N.Y. “He didn’t want to be there. He allowed Buster Douglas to get brave. I wouldn’t have been whispering in his ear (as Snowell did between rounds). I would’ve said, ‘Do you want to fight or should I throw in the towel?’ He wanted to lose. Maybe the pressure was getting to him. He was hit more in that fight than in his amateur career through his pro career with all the sparring in between.

“Don King is a great con man. He controls everything. Didn’t you see Don King in the background (after the bout)? While Tyson was in the dressing room, King was trying to get close to Buster Douglas. I hear he has five options on Douglas. He has ruined a great young career.”