Peachy prospects

Tyson granted license to fight in Georgia

Mike Tyson could face Lennox Lewis at the Georgia Dome on June 8. Al Bello/Getty Images

ATLANTA (AP) -- Mike Tyson has been licensed to fight in Georgia, putting the Georgia Dome in the running as a site for his heavyweight title fight with Lennox Lewis.

The fight is still being shopped to several cities, though, and both the site and date of the bout are in question.

Georgia's top boxing administrator said Tyson received a license last week for a possible bout in Atlanta on June 8.

But Thomas Mishou, administrator of the Georgia Boxing Commission, said other cities are also in contention for the fight.

"There are other cities in consideration -- I think probably the lead city is L.A.," Mishou said. "Now that this has gone this far I think that Atlanta is being seriously considered."

The Denver Post reported Wednesday that Colorado Office of Boxing director Josef Mason was reviewing an application by promoter Marty Garafalo to hold the fight in the state.

The fight was originally set for April 6 in Las Vegas, but Nevada boxing officials last month rejected Tyson's bid for a license.

Since then, promoters have scrambled to find another site, with several states saying they would not license Tyson. On Monday, the Texas Motor Speedway said it was withdrawing from consideration because it didn't consider Tyson a wholesome attraction.

Tyson adviser Shelly Finkel said Atlanta was a prime candidate for the fight.

"We chose Atlanta because there have been some big fights there, it's a major city that has held several big events and they have direct flights from London," Finkel told the New York Daily News.

Mishou confirmed a license was issued to Tyson. In Georgia, a license costs only $10 and an applicant must only prove he is physically fit for a match.

"June 8th is the date that I've heard that the match may very well take place," Mishou said.

Tyson also has a license application pending in Texas, and is expected to apply for a permit in California. Promoters in Michigan also are bidding to stage a fight there.

"The fight will not happen on April 6," Gary Shaw, Lewis' promoter at Main Events, said Tuesday. "Lennox is in a courtroom now. He's not in training. It's Feb. 12. Anyone who is realistic will tell you that it won't happen on April 6."

 

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