Tyson Takes Fight Out of Seldon : This One Was Over Before It Even Began

Well, at least, he didn’t eat ‘im.

It was as one-sided as a shipwreck. The Titanic put up a better fight against the iceberg.

A creature so awesome he looked prehistoric pounded the hapless Bruce Seldon into oblivion. Where he came from in the first place.

It was so easy, it looked unreal. And the 9,000 disgruntled fans at the MGM Grand hotel arena here rose to their feet and screamed “Fake!” at the outcome.

If it was a fight, so was the Johnstown Flood. The Krakatoa volcano. It was a force of nature.

Was it a real, on-the-level contest? Well, it wasn’t Dempsey-Tunney or even Louis-Paychek, for all of that. Seldon showed all the belligerence of a fawn. He made a cameo appearance. Not really part of the plot.

But the Mike Tyson who climbs in a ring wearing a torn towel, trunks and sockless shoes is a sight guaranteed to strike terror even to brave pugs. If he came walking ashore on a small coastal town, the Coast Guard would radio for help. Godzilla in a hand towel. You half-expected Bruce Seldon to dial 911. He did the next-best thing: He ran aground. It was the prudent thing to do. If you see a train coming, you get off the tracks--or lie down between them.

The full demonic 219 pounds of controlled rage that is Michael Gerard Tyson unleashed itself on the opponent whose name he is not even sure of, a man his camp refers to as “Sheldon,” not even deigning to dignify him with his right handle.

By whatever name, Seldon should have come into the ring Saturday singing “Nearer My God To Thee.” He didn’t even have a lifeboat to go to.

Mike Tyson went after him like a loan shark--or a real shark. He was contemptuous of his punches and charged at him, eyes glittering, gold teeth gleaming in the ring lights. It wasn’t a fight, it was a mugging. Seldon began looking around for an escape hatch before the bell died down. He had a big-eyed look on his face as though to say, “O my God, what have I done!? What am I doing here?”

He wasn’t there long. It was the 21st one-round knockout of Tyson’s career. Seldon should have mailed it in. He wasn’t there long enough for Tyson to get a good look at him. He’s not only not sure what his name is but is not sure what he looks like.

The first punch of the fight settled the issue. Seldon’s eyes rolled in his head. You could almost hear him thinking “O, God! Twelve rounds of this?”

Did he settle for 1 minute 49 seconds? After all, he got $5 million whether he went one minute or 36. Five mil for a minute-forty-nine is pay corporate CEOs get. Even 36 minutes is good. But if you risk your life or your teeth or eyes and ears for 12 rounds for the same pay, the take gets less glamorous.

Did he take the easy way out? Replays seemed to indicate that the second knockdown followed a smashing left to the head. Seldon stood absorbing it for second, then sank to the canvas.

The first knockdown seemed less decisive. Tyson appeared trying to wrestle free from a clinch when Seldon had a sinking spell. The crowd began to boo then. They thought they were watching a fix, not a fight.

Perhaps it’s something simple. Like, maybe Bruce Seldon should not be hit on the chin--or anywhere else--with a gloved fist. Or even a wet Kleenex.

Shouting “Fake!” is always a dangerous ringside business anyway. History shows us a crowd at Madison Square Garden many years ago stood and howled “Fake!” in a rage after Primo Carnera knocked out one Ernie Schaaf from punches that appeared harmless. The next day, Schaaf died in the hospital from the effect of the blows that drew the fans’ cynicism.

What now in the continuing soap opera pugilism has become? Well, Tyson’s promoter Don King had an announcement as to the next non-fight for Tyson. Evander Holyfield will get his chance to hit the floor. Presumably, it will take stronger punches than floored Seldon. Presumably they will be forthcoming all the same.

The night was a push for Mike Tyson. He won a title (Seldon’s WBA) and he lost one (his WBC). He broke even. He lost the WBC in court. A judge in New Jersey ruled he had to be fighting Lennox Lewis, not Bruce Seldon.

So, he lost one title without throwing a punch. But, that’s all right. He seemed to have gained one the same way.