In the twilight of his illustrious career, Mike Tyson, the once-formidable "Iron Mike," found himself facing a surprising opponent – the little-known Irish heavyweight, Kevin McBride. What unfolded in that fateful bout in 2005 would not only mark the end of Tyson's iconic reign but also reveal the lengths he was willing to go to secure victory, even if it meant resorting to his infamous ear-biting tactics.

A Legendary Showdown: Tyson's Last Stand

The Underdog's Moment of Glory

The stage was set for a classic David versus Goliath showdown as Tyson, the former heavyweight champion, took on the massive underdog, Kevin McBride. Considered a massive underdog going into the bout, the Monaghan native managed to hold his own for the six grueling rounds, defying the odds and the expectations of the boxing world.Despite Tyson's attempts to break McBride's arm and open a cut above his eye, the Irishman refused to back down. As the sixth round came to a close, Tyson, unable to secure the victory, quit on the stool, effectively ending his iconic career for almost 20 years until a showdown with Jake Paul this month materialized.

The Infamous Bite: Tyson's Desperate Measures

In a desperate attempt to regain the upper hand, Tyson resorted to his infamous tactics, this time targeting McBride's nipple. "He tried to bite my nipple off, honest to God," McBride recounted in an exclusive interview with Bloody Elbow. "You'd have to watch in slow motion, but he went in, and I remember vividly he pulled away from me, and my nipple was slipping out of his mouth."Fortunately for McBride, Tyson's mouthpiece saved him from losing his nipple altogether. "I can't remember what round it was in, but I'm glad he had his mouthpiece in because if he had spit out his mouthpiece, it might have been a different story!" McBride exclaimed. "He definitely did bite me, and he bit Evander Holyfield's ear and spit it out."

The Aftermath: A Surreal Encounter with a Legend

The night's events took an unexpected turn when McBride had the opportunity to meet and shake hands with boxing royalty – Muhammad Ali. The legendary former champion, who was watching from ringside, paid a unique compliment to the victor. "After the fight, I got to meet Muhammad Ali and shake his hand," McBride recalled. "I got to hug him and say, 'This is the greatest night of my life.' I'm after meeting and beating a legend, and now I'm meeting the greatest of all time."Ali's response was equally memorable, as he "threw a few punches" at McBride and said, "I'm the greatest, you're the latest." For McBride, this surreal encounter with the legendary Ali was a testament to the magnitude of his victory over Tyson.

A Warning to Jake Paul: Tyson's Unparalleled Power

As the boxing world eagerly awaits the highly anticipated showdown between Tyson and Jake Paul, McBride offers a stark warning to the social media star. Having experienced Tyson's ferocious power firsthand, McBride knows the perils that await Paul."He has unbelievable power, and you'd have to feel it to understand it, you know?" McBride cautioned. "I sparred fighters like Riddick Bowe and had different fights all over the world, a lot of people hit hard, but Tyson, if you'd say all those others were a 5 or 6, he was a 10 out of 10."McBride's advice to Paul and his coaches is to "try and ride the storm." He acknowledges that Tyson's experience and training as a professional fighter make him a formidable opponent, and the social media star may not have the strength to withstand the onslaught.Despite the risks, McBride recognizes the excitement surrounding the Tyson-Paul matchup. "Fair dues to him, he had a dream and he's a YouTuber fighter, but now he's mixing in with the pros," he said. "Time will tell, I guess, but it's going to be exciting on Netflix. I've got Netflix, so I'll be watching it myself."As the boxing world eagerly awaits the clash between the legendary Tyson and the ambitious Paul, the story of Tyson's final professional fight against Kevin McBride serves as a cautionary tale – a reminder of the lengths the former champion was willing to go to secure victory, even if it meant resorting to his infamous tactics. The bite that sealed Tyson's fate has become a part of boxing lore, a testament to the intensity and unpredictability that defined the career of one of the sport's most iconic figures.