Boxing: Tyson 'expected rejection'

Mike Tyson was not surprised the Nevada State Athletic Commission refused to grant him a licence to fight Lennox Lewis in Las Vegas on April 6.

Amid confusing scenes in Las Vegas, the five voting members of the Commission decided by a 4-1 majority not to grant Tyson’s application.

‘‘I didn’t think I was going to get the licence, but Shelly Finkel (Tyson’s manager) forced me to come here anyway,’’ Tyson said.

A press conference brawl hampered Tyson’s bid to gain the licence, and the former world champion blamed one of Lewis’ bodyguards for starting the fracas.

‘‘He said some rhetoric that was racist and it was just unacceptable,’’ Tyson told a media scrum.

‘‘I felt it was appropriate for me, probably not in that fashion, but to assail him just as he has assailed me, and let him feel the pain and embarrassment that I felt when he assailed me with those ridiculous comments.’’

Regarding the Commission’s decision, Tyson was reported to have later added: ‘‘I am not surprised. These people hate me here.

‘‘They are great orators, but their hearts are black.’’

After two commissioners voted against granting Tyson a licence, Tyson’s lawyer Bob Fiss requested a motion for Tyson to be able to withdraw his licence, which was not seconded.

Another motion was then passed 4-1 in favour of rejection, with only Commission chairman Luther Mack voting against.

Despite the decision, there is confusion whether Lewis versus Tyson can still take place somewhere else in the United States.

Because Tyson’s was an annual licence application, rather than a decision on whether or not to revoke an existing one, it is thought that other state commissions are not necessarily duty-bound to follow suit.

But Tyson’s lawyer’s last-ditch attempt to withdraw the application suggests the Tyson camp believe a Las Vegas refusal could be upheld nationwide.

It is doubtful that anywhere other than Las Vegas could bankroll the big fight to such an extent, with the MGM Grand resort having reportedly already paid a 10million (€11.5m) fee merely for the privilege of being able to stage the fight.

The then Nevada Commission chairman Dr Elias Ghanem had warned Tyson, when he gave him back his licence in 1999 when a ban for biting Evander Holyfield’s ears had elapsed, that it was his last chance, and tonight Ghanem’s word held.

Tyson’s two subsequent appearances in Las Vegas after the Holyfield debacle had produced an admitted attempt to break Frans Botha’s arm and a one-round no-contest against Orlin Norris.

Afterwards, the Nevada Commission did not revoke Tyson’s licence but effectively told him to stay away.

Tyson had been ordered to appear in person at tonight’s hearing and heard the panel express their concerns both about his conduct during the January 22 clash with Lewis and about other recent aspects of his personal life.

The Commissioners made it clear that they were not meeting solely to discuss the aftermath of the press conference brawl but also his tumultuous private life outside of the ring.

Tyson pleaded with the panel not to make him a scapegoat, saying: ‘‘I’m not Mother Theresa and I’m not Charles Manson either. Just treat me equally. I don’t care if you ban me for life - just ban somebody else who does the same thing.’’

Tyson’s lawyer Bob Fiss claimed Tyson, who fidgeted and dabbed away sweat throughout the hearing, had been led to believe he was following a pre-arranged deal when he stalked over to stand face-to-face with Lewis at the press conference.

When Lewis’ bodyguard attempted to intervene Tyson threw a punch which, according to Fiss, ‘‘was still part of the play-acting and Mike Tyson threw a punch which deliberately missed the bodyguard’s face by four inches or more.’’

Tyson added: ‘‘Lennox tried to sucker-punch me. This altercation got out of hand because somebody did more than he was supposed to do. It became a mis-communication problem.’’

Fiss went on to explain Tyson’s expletive-ridden tirade at a journalist immediately after the brawl by stating: ‘‘It was triggered by actions going beyond the traditional conduct of a journalist - the fact that the journalist did not act professionally added to the public humiliation he (Tyson) felt at that moment.’’

The Commission had insisted before the hearing that, in arriving at their decision, they would not take into account the expected financial windfall that a Lewis versus Tyson bout would bring to Las Vegas.

The city has struggled to attract the high-rollers since September 11.

So there was always the added issue for Nevada of rejecting a fight and then seeing another state possibly step in to reap its financial benefits.

Fiss had insisted during the hearing that if Tyson were refused a licence by Nevada there were at least three other states which had already indicated that they would welcome Tyson with open arms.

Other states can do what they want, but tonight at least the Nevada Commissioners did what was right and upheld the honour of their sport.