Mike Tyson vs Lou Savarese official on-site tee shirt, 24th June 2000, Hampden Park, Glasgow.

size ultra Large.


Former two-time heavyweight champion Mike Tyson wasted little time in turning out the lights for Scottish boxing fans and Mr. Lou Savarese.

Boxing's perennial poster child for bad manners, self-canonization, and lethal punching power dispatched Savarese in just 38-seconds of the first round. The ending came so suddenly after the elongated introductions that 20,000 freezing fight fans seemed stunned by the brevity of the contest.

Savarese was the object of boos, heated curses, and hurled missiles that fell well short of their target as the tall American made his way back through the ropes and a return to the dressing room. For his 38-seconds of employment he was rewarded with $ 850,000 United States dollars. While Savarese departed, Tyson and his black-clad followers celebrated his swift victory

"I am the most ruthless, brutal champion ever," Tyson proclaimed after the stunning victory. "I am Sonny Liston and Jack Dempsey. There is no one who can match me."

"I got caught with a left hook," Savarese sheepishly said after the loss. "I threw a jab and he slipped it. I got caught with a great punch. I thought I was ready to continue, but I don't question the referee's judgment.

For his part the veteran referee Coyle let Tyson off the hook, which in some quarters would have resulted in a disqualification. The problem, of course, was the contest was all ready over when Tyson also deposited Coyle on the canvas.

"As soon as the second left hook connected I shouted stop and dived in, but Mike said he didn't hear me and couldn't see me either - even though I was standing in between them," Coyle said. "But as soon as I shouted stop boxing the contest was over, whatever happens after that the contest is finished at that point."

Tyson caused even further concern following the knockout with his post-fight comments regarding such topics as cannibalism when the subject of the current heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis was raised.

"I want your heart. I want to eat your children," Tyson proclaimed. "I need more training. I am rusty. He is no match for me when I am right. I have only fought 12 times in 10 years. I want to rip out his heart and feed it to him."

Price: £35