BOXING: Former world champion Mike Tyson says he will tear Co Monaghan fighter Kevin McBride apart when the two heavyweights meet on Saturday night. Tyson hopes to redeem himself following the fourth-round knockout defeat by Briton Danny Williams in Kentucky last year.

"I'll gut him like a fish," the American yelled during a news conference at Howard University yesterday. The 6ft 6in Irishman admitted fighting Tyson "was a dream come true", but added that he had come to Washington to win. "When I hit Mike Tyson on the chin, he's going to think the whole of Ireland, as an island, hit him on the chin," said the 32-year-old. "On June 11th, I'm going to shock the world. Believe me when I say it. I'm a contender, not a pretender."

Tyson spent most of conference talking about his legacy. "Some reporters have called this (fight) a fiasco," Tyson said. "You can talk about the past, I'm a convicted convict, I'm trying to break somebody's arm or bite somebody's ear. But you have to understand this. . . these people are not here because I'm a circus, they're here because I'm an icon. . . an international star.

"Please forgive me for sounding somewhat egotistical. I'm just defending myself, setting the people straight. If anyone mentions Mike Tyson's name and they don't know my name, they're from another planet."