The next big fight
Big names to battle over Tyson's boxing future
Posted: Tuesday October 20, 1998 10:38 AM
| |
The Nevada Athletic Commission voted 4-1 to restore Mike Tyson's license.
CNN/SI |
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- The next big fight in Mike Tyson's life could take place before he steps into the ring again.
It's a fight for control of the former heavyweight champion's future career, and it involves such big names as Magic Johnson and Don King.
Tyson barely had time to celebrate getting his boxing license back Monday when Johnson took the podium before an assembly of media to proclaim himself in charge of Tyson's career.
"I'll be the closest guy to him, making all the decisions," Johnson said.
Not necessarily, said sources close to Tyson, who said fight manager Shelly Finkel will continue in his role as Tyson's main adviser. Finkel was not at Monday's hearing, but Tyson met with him afterward.
"Shelly is still the guy," a source said.
Johnson testified on Tyson's behalf during the hearing before the Nevada Athletic Commission, saying he would teach the former heavyweight champion how to handle his money and his career.
"Hopefully, I'll handle all of that for him; choose the right team for him," Johnson said.
Finkel wants Tyson fighting by the end of the year, and the date of Dec. 5 has been prominently mentioned. The fight will almost certainly be at the MGM Grand hotel-casino, whose executives attended Tyson's hearings.
Still to be worked out is the problem of King, who still holds contracts binding Tyson to fight for him. Tyson has sued King to get out of the contracts, but the case is far from being decided.
Reportedly, Tyson's advisers have been talking with King in hopes of reaching a settlement that will allow Tyson to fight without him. King said Monday he is happy Tyson got his license back.
"I am delighted Tyson will be able to fight again," said King, whom Tyson has accused of stealing millions of dollars from him.
One thing is for sure, however the fight for control of Tyson's future works out. He will earn millions of dollars once again, much like he did when he was released from prison in 1995 and earned $25 million for his first fight against Peter McNeeley. Tyson owes the Internal Revenue Service $13 million in back taxes, and is nearly broke despite having made $100 million in purses in his last six fights.
"I have no more financial problems now," Tyson said after winning his license back.
Tyson himself said he wasn't sure when he would get back into the ring, saying he needed some time to work on his relationship with his family and some weekly sessions with his psychiatrist.
"I don't know if I'm prepared to fight before the end of the year," Tyson said.
In the biggest split decision win of his life, Tyson got back the license taken from him for biting Evander Holyfield's ears 15 months ago on a 4-1 vote by the Athletic Commission.
"I'm just happy I won," Tyson said.
With Johnson and Muhammad Ali backing him up, Tyson seemed near tears upon learning he would be allowed to return from his boxing exile.
He promised to put his life in order as he prepares to return to the sport he loves and the heavyweight division he once terrorized.
"We're going to be bringing Mike along very slowly," Johnson said. "Don't be looking for him to be fighting these champions."
It was a contrite and thoroughly humbled Tyson who appeared before the commission in a repeat of a hearing a month ago that went on for six hours before commissioners ordered psychological tests for Tyson before making a decision.
This time, though, it was a far different atmosphere as Tyson sat with his wife, Monica, and lawyer, Jim Jimmerson before the five-member panel. Gone were other attorneys who presented the case in the first meeting and Finkel, who irritated the commission by trying to get Tyson licensed in New Jersey in August.
Tyson and his wife both spoke to the commission instead of the lawyers. Johnson then gave a plea, and Ali's wife, Lonnie, read a statement from her husband, who sat trembling next to her.
"I have made many mistakes in my lifetime that cost me dearly," Ali said in the statement. "Let this young man earn a living. Give him a chance to redeem himself in the ring."
In the end, the commission did just that, voting quickly after the three hours' of testimony to restore the license that was revoked after Tyson shocked the world by biting Holyfield's ears during their June 28, 1997, heavyweight title fight.
At only one point did Tyson appear to be losing his temper, when he was questioned by commissioner James Nave, who cast the only dissenting vote. His wife tapped him on the leg to try to keep him from talking further as he sparred verbally with Nave.
"I'm at your mercy," Tyson told Nave. "Please don't torture me any longer, sir."
For half of the meeting, five doctors from Massachusetts General Hospital gave their evaluation of Tyson, who underwent five days of psychological testing there last month.
The lead doctor, Ronald Schouten, testified that Tyson is "a very complex individual with strengths not always apparent and weaknesses that are sometimes too apparent."
Schouten said Tyson is in need of extensive psychotherapy and needs to learn how to control his emotions and anger. Tyson is also depressed and might have to take medication for that if the therapy doesn't work, the doctor said.
Still, Schouten said, he doesn't believe Tyson will snap again in the ring.
Monica Tyson described her husband as "funny, smart and kind" and said he "has the biggest heart of anyone I've met."
Mrs. Tyson admitted that Tyson can lose his temper and said he did just that when the two were involved in a minor traffic accident in Maryland on August 31. But she said she never saw Tyson attack the two men, as they have claimed.
Tyson also answered questions about the fender-bender, which he said happened after he and his wife worked out at a local gym and were on their way to look at a motorcycle Tyson wanted to buy.
"Trust me, I didn't really hit anybody," Tyson said. "If he said I did, I was unconscious and I'll say I'm sorry."
Tyson faces misdemeanor charges at a December 1 trial, although Jimmerson said settlement talks are still under way.
After the vote, commission chairman Elias Ghanem warned Tyson that he was getting his last break from the panel.
"If Mike Tyson has more troubles in the ring that are of his own making, I guarantee you he'll never fight in the state of Nevada again," Ghanem said. "This is one chance only."
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
| 
