Lawyers get to work as Vegas vetoes Tyson

Published on Wednesday 30 January 2002 00:00

MIKE TYSON’S lawyers will pore over the legal implications of the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s decision to deny the former world heavyweight champion a licence to fight in Las Vegas.

Tyson was refused a licence by a 4-1 verdict of the five-strong panel in the city where he hoped to be fighting Lennox Lewis on April 6 in the biggest grossing fight of all time.

After two panel members said they would not sanction Tyson’s application for an annual licence, the fighter’s lawyer requested a motion for Tyson to be allowed to withdraw his application. That action suggests the Tyson camp are worried a refusal in Nevada could limit the chances of his getting a licence to fight in a different state.

But that motion failed to be seconded and moments later he 4-1 verdict was carried with only Commission chairman Luther Mack voting in favour of Tyson.

It is understood that other state commissions would still be able to licence Tyson because his request in Nevada was merely rejected - rather than his having any existing licence revoked.

But many states and countries, including Britain, will stand by Nevada and not allow Tyson to box within their jurisdiction.

All of which puts the fight, for which the MGM Grand in Las Vegas had already paid a $10 million fee, just for the privilege of staging the contest, is in doubt.

The Vegas casino industries had pleaded for the fight to bolster their ailing economies after September 11 and Tyson was expected to be given another last warning along with his licence.

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

It appeared to be the fears over his future outside the ring which drove the majority of the decisions, rather than the distasteful bust-up in New York.

Tyson had 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."

Meanwhile Lewis’ former manager Frank Maloney was taken aback to hear Tyson’s application for a boxing licence had been turned down.

He said: "I did think the Commission would vote in favour because of the amount of money involved but they have gone on moral grounds and put the house of boxing in order."

Maloney believes many other boxing boards will follow suit and refuse permission for Tyson to box, although he is unsure whether Tyson has the stomach to take on Lewis.

"I would like to think the British Board of Boxing Control will follow Nevada," said Maloney. "I don’t think they will be seen to rule against Nevada. A few of the smaller (American) states may have granted it, but not now.

"I don’t think Mike Tyson wants to fight and it is a good excuse to get out of the fight. He is not the Mike Tyson of old. I believe it is the end of Tyson. But I think a lot of the team around him will want him to fight.

"It could go to China or the Far East - someone is bound to come up with the money."