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What distractions? Tyson set to push everything aside and just fight tonight
Posted: Saturday June 24, 2000 08:34 PM
GLASGOW, Scotland (Ticker) -- Mike Tyson, who has battled distractions throughout much of his career, hopes to put his latest series of out-of-the-ring incidents behind him when he faces Lou Savarese tonight. Tyson, 47-3 with 41 knockouts, hopes to build on his second-round destruction of Julius Francis in January. That fight took place in Manchester, England, where Tyson's drawing power generated a packed house. Tonight, he fights in Hampden Park, where another crowd in excess of 40,000 is expected. In Savarese, Tyson faces a much bigger opponent, one that physically resembles current IBF and WBC champion Lennox Lewis. Savarese (39-3, 32 KOs) has lost half of his last six fights, dropping a controversial decision to George Foreman in April 1997, getting stopped by David Izon in 1997 and this past June's decision loss to Michael Grant. Tyson weighed in Friday at 222 pounds while Savarese tipped the scales at 241. For Tyson to move closer to a title shot at Lewis, he must put aside his latest bout with controversy. A portion of Tyson's purse reportedly has been frozen in a dispute over $630,000 worth of jewelry he bought in England prior to the Francis fight. Tonight's fight also is expected to draw a sizeable protest from women's groups who did not want the convicted rapist allowed in the country. Adding to the mystery surrounding the youngest heavyweight champion ever, is Tyson's closed workouts, lending credence to rumors that he has not trained well. The death of boyhood friend Darrell Baum also has resulted in a training camp disruption. Tyson, who turns 34 on Friday, has fought just 12 times in the last 10 years. Savarese is 35.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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