When we look back at the illustrious, sometimes cartoonish, sometimes glorious career of Mike Tyson, there is one thing that can be said about his four losses that can't be said about any other heavyweight of his generation.

Mike Tyson only lost to the best (so far). A prime James 'Buster' Douglas, Evander Holyfield, and Lennox Lewis are the only men ever to have beaten the 38-year-old, albeit all by knockout. Even retired champ Lewis can't boast being defeated solely by upper echelon fighters, having lost to the ordinary Oliver Mcall and Hasim Rahman (though later he avenged both losses). And Old Man Holyfield, who unlike Tyson, has REALLY been showing his age, lost to John Ruiz and a blown-up middleweight in the talented James Toney. Say what you want about Tyson, but he's never been in danger of losing to an ordinary fighter or an unnatural heavyweight.

So what do we know about Tyson going into his fight with Danny Williams on Friday night? We know that at 38, he's just a shell of his former self trying desperately to recapture not past glory, but the millions he squandered on a lascivious lifestyle. But we also know that he still has the punch and the hand speed, and has reinvented his image after his loss to Lewis. The new, kinder, gentler Mike has admitted his past mistakes (he called himslef "the most foolish person in the history of the sport") seems more affable and forthcoming with the press, and seems to have refocused. Seems being the operative word.

As an athlete, manager Shelley Finkel says Tyson is in the best shape of his life, though that statement is hardly earnest, as Finkel says that before every Tyson fight. But trainer Freddie Roach has been impressed with Tyson's dedication and commitment to the gym, saying that he's at 80%. After a 17-month layoff, that's expected, but the former champ actually looked sharp hitting the pads and speedbag in his preparation for the fight.

If Mike Tyson knocks out Danny Williams of England (a 31-year-old journeyman who has never fought in the States and is even less of a challenge than Tyson's last KO victim, Clifford Ettiene, who Tyson disposed of in one round), looks good doing it, and stays active over the next two years, Mike Tyson will once again be the linear heavyweight champion of the world. I say this not as a nostalgia-obsessed fan of the 1986 version of 'Iron Mike', because I have never subscribed to that mentality. No, the reason I say Mike Tyson will be back on top in less than two years (provided he keeps his erratic personality in check) is because the heavyweight division is so shallow. Is there any doubt that a conditioned Tyson would pulverize Joe Mesi, Lamon Brewster, Fres Oquendo, Chris Byrd, John Ruiz and Jameel McCline? If Tyson took on champion Vitali Klitschko next week, would it surprise anyone if he regained the championship?

I think not.

Mike Tyson's comeback is a legitimate one, but only he knows whether or not he can put the demons to bed and once again aspire to be great, if only for a short time. The money and the glory? It's right there for the taking.

All he has to do is want it bad enough.

Prediction: Tyson KO 2