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Outweighed Flashy Tyson checks in 21 pounds lighter than Francis
Posted: Friday January 28, 2000 06:45 PM
MANCHESTER, England (AP) -- Mike Tyson was outweighed by 21 pounds (9.4 kilos) by Julius Francis at Friday's weigh-in, but he smirked at his British opponent and stole the show by flashing $1.6 million worth of jewelry while standing on the scales. Francis scaled 244 1/2 pounds (110.9k), while the former world heavyweight champion weighed in at 223 3/4 pounds (101.5). The two will fight Saturday night at the MEN Arena in downtown Manchester. As soon as he stepped onto the scales, Tyson began twirling his hair with his left hand. It appeared to be a deliberate attempt to show off the diamond encrusted watch and bracelet he bought last week at a jeweler's in London. Tyson also sported a huge necklace. As the two fighters stood staring at each other for photographers, Tyson smirked and appeared to have trouble trying not to laugh. Tyson eventually turned away, while Francis held his stare. "He's kind of fat," Tyson said. "He can't hit me with his eyes. I'm cool, I'm relaxed and I'm ready to fight." The weigh-in was delayed an hour until after the rest of the undercard boxers had been on the scales. Tyson then arrived four minutes before the rescheduled time and was made to wait 13 minutes until Francis, the British heavyweight champion, arrived. During the delay, the only moment of drama occurred when a table collapsed under the weight of photographers and reporters. No one was hurt. Eventually, Francis arrive wearing the same headphones and wrap-around shades he wore at Thursday's head-to-head news conference. The British fighter wore them throughout the news conference as if he didn't want to hear what Tyson had to say. Tyson is a huge favorite. Few observers expect Francis to last more than three rounds. Tyson needs a good and uncontroversial victory to restore some credibility to his goal of regaining the belts currently owned by Lennox Lewis. "I'm ready to blaze and I'm looking forward to being victorious," he said at Thursday's news conference. "I'm in great shape and I'm ready to go. I'm going to have a war with him. There's gonna be a war." Tyson's power and versatility are expected to be too much for Francis, who lost his previous three fights before beating three fellow countrymen. In his last fight against a world-rated opponent, Francis was knocked out in two rounds by Vitali Klitschko, currently the WBO champion.
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