“Dropping trees, clearing snow, shouting ‘TIMBER’….” Mike Tyson’s last opponent surprisingly works with ‘Tree surgeon’

Kevin McBride, the last opponent of Mike Tyson now works with a tree surgeon after retiring from the sport of boxing.

“Dropping trees, clearing snow, shouting ‘TIMBER’….” Mike Tyson’s last opponent surprisingly works with ‘Tree surgeon’

Mike Tyson vs. Kevin McBride (Credit- boxrec.com)

Kevin McBride is the last professional opponent of the legendary Mike Tyson. His story is one that displays the uncertainties in an athlete’s career. It also highlights how temporary one’s time in the spotlight can be.

Mike Tyson, in his glory days, was a force to reckon with. He was formidable as a boxer who knocked out most of his opponents in the early rounds of his fights. However, like every athlete, Tyson struggled towards the twilight of his career. Tyson lost three of his last four bouts. And his last fight with McBride was the final one that closed the curtains on Tyson’s illustrious career.

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One would think beating a legend like Mike Tyson would skyrocket McBride’s career to the big league. However, this didn’t happen. The Irishman went on to lose six of seven fights after the career-defining bout with Tyson. What could have been a career with a bragging right moment of being the last one to beat Iron Mike Tyson faded away into irrelevancy. McBride then retired and now surprisingly works with a tree surgeon. Being questioned on this, he had the following to say:

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I work with a tree surgeon now. He has me dropping trees, clearing snow, shouting 'timber' and all that. It is good. It keeps me busy. My job is I pick things up and I put things down.
Kevin McBride with an interview with The SportsBible

Kevin McBride went on to sign with Don King, the former promoter of Tyson. King had a controversial work relationship with Tyson. However, after losing six of his seven fights, he lost grasp of the opportunity presented to him after his victory over Tyson. But McBride doesn’t seem to sulk that his time in the limelight was shortlived. Happiness and satisfaction are much greater than money and superficial fame.

Mike Tyson’s multiple defeats at the end of his career

In the final stages of Mike Tyson’s boxing career, a series of defeats marked a distinct shift from his earlier reign of dominance in the sport. Among these losses, his 1990 defeat to James ‘Buster’ Douglas stands out prominently. This period in Tyson’s life was marred by personal issues, potentially affecting his performance in the ring. Douglas utilized his longer reach and speed to secure a knockout in the tenth round, which sent shockwaves through the sporting world.

Mike Tyson in his later years
Mike Tyson in his later years (credit- Reuters)

Evander Holyfield emerged as another significant figure in Tyson’s career. Their first encounter in 1996 culminated in a victory for Holyfield. The drama intensified in their 1997 rematch, where Tyson was disqualified for biting Holyfield’s ears. This incident not only fueled their rivalry but also highlighted the complexities of maintaining sportsmanship in the highly competitive world of boxing.

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As Tyson’s career neared its conclusion, he suffered losses to Lennox Lewis in 2002 and subsequently to Danny Williams and Kevin McBride in 2004 and 2005. The bout with McBride, which led to Tyson’s decision to retire, signaled the end of a remarkable yet tumultuous boxing journey. Despite these setbacks, Tyson’s legacy in boxing remains substantial, defined by significant victories and noteworthy defeats.

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