Why Mathis believes lightning can strike twice

When confronted with the widespread notion that he is not expected to provide Mike Tyson with more than just a few minutes of amusement at the Spectrum in Philadelphia on Saturday night, Buster Mathis Jnr draws attention to coincidence.

Nobody ever got laid out by coincidence, but in the circumstances Mathis finds it comforting. His first name, for example. The only blemish on Tyson's ring record, a sensational defeat in Tokyo six years ago, was put there by James "Buster" Douglas as a 42-1 underdog. "That's boxing for you," Mathis could be heard saying this week.

Then there is motivation. Douglas gave the one great performance of his career shortly after the death of his mother. Mathis lost his father, a former heavyweight contender, in September. "Knowing he had faith in me is an inspiration," Mathis added.

Trouble is that in boxing, as in most things, talent usually asserts itself. Nobody, probably not even Mathis himself, believes Tyson is in peril of again being temporarily separated from his senses. So where is the 25-year-old from Grand Rapids, Michigan, going? "I want to get to Mike in the later rounds," he said.

Mathis looks determined but slightly uncertain. Maybe he was trying to remember all the things his father communicated. The most important was this: "Son, you can play football and you can play baseball, but just remember, you can't play boxing."

Buster Mathis Snr also spoke about facing up to disappointments. "He told me I must always make the best of things, and I remembered that when I knew I wouldn't be fighting Mike last month because he damaged a hand. I thought that might be the end of it, that I wouldn't get the chance again."

Instead of brooding over the loss of an $800,000 (pounds 540,000) purse, Mathis concentrated on the cultivation of less violent skills. Taking an eight- day course, he qualified in real estate management. This makes Mathis different but it does not improve opinions of him as a fighter. Nice kid, but has not got enough to hold off Tyson is what the majority say about him in boxing.

It is not that Mathis has scorned the precepts of his tutor, lately Joey Fariello, but simply that he is not good enough. When this was put to one of Tyson's co-managers, John Horne, along with the view that a more durable opponent would accelerate Tyson's rehabilitation, he shrugged. "Who is there?" he said. "I'd like to see Mike taken a few rounds, but the idea always is to get opponents out of there as quickly as possible. I don't think there's a heavyweight around, Riddick Bowe, Frank Bruno, Lennox Lewis, who could stand up to Mike for more than a couple of rounds."

An old trick of fight managers is to communicate news of mayhem in the gymnasium, the damage inflicted on the hired help. Horne is no exception. "There isn't one of Mike's sparring partners who hasn't been knocked over," he said. "I can see him back to his best, better perhaps than he ever was."

Being of more than average intelligence, Mathis is acutely aware of the risk he is taking for 25 per cent less than he was guaranteed before Tyson's injury brought about a postponement. "The ring is a scary place and you always know fear in there," he said. "But when Douglas beat Tyson he exploded a myth. Since then Mike hasn't been such a terror, and we still don't know how much of himself he left in prison."

Mathis and Fariello are encouraged by a video of Tyson's comeback against Peter McNeeley four months ago in Las Vegas. It is difficult to imagine that valid conclusions can be reached from a contest that lasted only 89 seconds, but Fariello insists that brevity masked serious flaws in Tyson's technique. "I know he had McNeeley down quickly but after that he didn't land a worthwhile punch," Fariello said. "Mike was wild, all over the place with his punching, and he didn't look happy with his performance."

"Intimidation has always been a big part of Tyson," Mathis said. "Before he lost to Douglas opponents froze at the sight of him. You knew what was going on inside their heads. That they were about to be battered. Nearly all those guys were beaten before they got into the ring. Well, that's gone. Mike was, and maybe still is, a terrific fighter. Sure, he'll try to take me out in the first minute, but at least I'm ready for that."

To hear Mathis express sympathy for Tyson is the cause of surprise among bystanders: "All that money, all that fame, and yet in my mind so insecure. I just don't understand why he wants to carry on fighting. If I had a small portion of what Mike's got I'd be out of there. I don't have a house, a car or fancy clothes. And nothing would change. I'd still live with my mother."

Mathis is no gift for small talk but his manner is invariably pleasing. Neither does he ever convey the impression of a man whose accomplishments don't measure up to his own opinions of his abilities. Mathis knows his limitations but considers that he has never been more than 75 per cent of himself. "This is all about two guys in the ring," he said. There is another way of looking at this fight but that would be putting Mathis down. Precisely what Tyson has in mind.