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Tyson's report card British Boxing Board of Control to review boxer's antics
Posted: Tuesday June 27, 2000 11:09 AM
LONDON (Reuters) -- The British Boxing Board of Control will discuss Wednesday its response to Mike Tyson's controversial fight with fellow-American Lou Saverese in Glasgow on Saturday. "There will be an all-day meeting on Wednesday when all the incidents surrounding the Tyson fight will be considered," BBBC secretary Simon Block said Monday. "We will read all the reports before deciding what action, if any, will be taken. "But at the moment, it would be be inappropriate for me to comment as I do not want to prejudice events." Tyson sparked a storm of protest following his antics during his 38-second demolition of the hopelessly inferior Savarese. The former world heavyweight champion's post-fight comments about Britain's world champion Lennox Lewis provoked further outrage. Tyson lunged for Savarese after the bout had been stopped, catching British referee John Coyle on the head and and knocking him to the canvas in his frenzied efforts to get at his opponent. After the bout Tyson launched an X-rated tirade about what he would do to Lewis. "I want to eat your heart out," said Tyson. "I want to eat your children. He is no match for me when I am right. I want to rip his heart out and feed it to him." Already shunned by the American public, Tyson flew back to the United States Sunday after calls for him to be banned from boxing again in Britain. The fight itself failed to capture the imagination of the British boxing fans. The promoters claimed to have sold 40,000 tickets for the fight. Afterwards they conceded that only 18,000 people had turned up on the night but even that figure looked on the high side. In all probability Tyson also will need a new British promoter following reports this past week of a disagreement with Frank Warren over an unpaid jewelery bill. Asked by reporters if Tyson would appear one of his future promotions, Warren replied: "I will have to think long and hard about that." The fight drew condemnation from anti-rape campaigners who argued that Tyson, a convicted rapist, should not be allowed into Britain. The latest Tyson controversy comes less than six months after he beat local boxer Julius Francis in four minutes in front of a packed arena in Manchester. Tyson was criticised widely by the British media and womens' groups during the visit as the country's "most disgraceful tourist." While given a hero's welcome by boxing fans, he was shunned by some of the capital's black community leaders. Tyson was convicted in the U.S. in 1992 for the rape of an 18-year-old beauty pageant contestant and served three years of a six-year sentence.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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