After winning the WBC version of the heavyweight title in March of 1996, Mike Tyson was signed to face WBA champion Bruce Seldon, known as the ‘Atlantic City Express’, on September 7 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Seldon was a 6 ft. 1 1/4 inch muscular boxer, with a glass chin, who I gave as much chance of beating Tyson as my cat. Seldon had a history of being knocked out early in his biggest fights, and if he lasted 2 minutes against Tyson, I’d have been shocked.
After paying to watch it on pay-per-view at home on my 46″ projection TV, I told my brother “Seldon should wear yellow trunks into the ring, to hide the fact he’s gonna pee himself on the way in.” The over-under prop was something like 3 and a 1/2 rounds, and If I had a million dollars, I’d have bet every single cent on Mike to win the under. If there was ever a sure thing to bet on in the history of boxing, this was it.
Seldon ran like the wind for about a minute in the first round, flicking a jab into the air as he retreated. As soon as Tyson got close, he grabbed in fear, knowing the inevitable was coming. A little past the one minute mark, Seldon dropped to the canvas like he had been hit by a rifle’s bullet, after a light right from Tyson barely grazed the top of his head. I screamed at the TV, “Get up you loser!”, knowing he was gonna take a dive. When he got up, he fell again from a Tyson left hook that missed him, proving my point. When he arose, he wobbled as if hurt, and glazed ahead in shock, all part of his pathetic acting job. Referee Richard Steele had no choice but to call an end to the mess, and the crowd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena immediately started yelling “Fix! Fix!” Seldon spend more energy hugging Tyson after his “loss”, than he did in the minute and a half he lasted.
It to me was the most cowardly and pathetic performance I’ve ever seen live by a so-called professional world champion. Seldon took a dive like a ‘bitch’, and retired in embarrassment after his disgusting effort. Mike Tyson to this day says “I never hit the guy with a punch!”, and the videotape proves him out.
Seldon received $5 million dollars that September night in 1996, and went home to New Jersey in shame, a thief more than a prizefighter.
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