The world awaits the return of Kevin McBride

It's the comeback the world has been waiting for, as Kevin McBride, the Irishman who ended Mike Tyson's career, places over two years of ring rust behind him and makes his 42nd professional appearance on July 10th in New York.

Okay, so maybe others don't share that level of enthusiasm but if Kevin can do a job on veteran Robert Hawkins then maybe, just maybe, we could see him back on Irish soil vying for the domestic heavyweight crown he won in 1997 against Paul Douglas. Galway southpaw Coleman Barrett now holds that belt and Belfast's Martin Rogan is closing in fast on a ring return of his own - basically, McBride's return is bang on cue.

“I mean business this time. Nobody thought I could beat Tyson and I did," stated Kevin, who sports a 34-6-1 record with 29 knockouts.

"They didn’t believe in me then and they’re going to doubt me now. I beat Tyson under tremendous pressure and feel that I’m capable of beating anybody. I’ve been out of action 2 ½ years. I had injuries to my back, ankle and wrist, but I’m healed now and ready to go all out. "I was supposed to get a world title shot after I beat Tyson, but I didn’t and that took away my hunger for boxing."

It was five years ago, in June 2005, when the final nail was slammed into the Tyson coffin by a man who arguably would have done well to last the opening round in the destroyer's 1980s heyday. For whatever reason McBride failed to capitilise on his new found fame and losses to Mike Mollo and Andrew Golota pushed him back into obscurity. It is easy to forget that way back in 1992 the Clones native travelled to Barcelona to compete in the Olympic games at super-heavyweight, going down in the second round to his Czech opponent.

Can he make any sort of impression on the stagnant heavyweight scene? It would appear unlikely, but Kevin believes he does possess one asset to aid him on his quest for glory.

“I have Irish pride on my side,” McBride added.

Robert Hawkins has been warned.