Is this the end for Tyson?

By Paul Upham: It is quite possible that Mike Tyson’s outpouring of anger at Tuesday’s aborted press conference in New York, intended to announce his long awaited clash with Lennox Lewis on April 6, will be his last world-wide public performance.

Not only does he have to front the Nevada State Athletic Commission next week in a bid to secure a boxing licence, in what will be a difficult enough task in itself, but it looks as if he will also find himself defending a charge of rape. A case which is currently with the Clark County district attorney's office in Las Vegas is under consideration.

Tyson has to convince the Nevada Commission that he is worthy of a licence that he has not had in that State since the end of 1999. There are many reasons why Tyson should be denied a licence. There are also many reasons why he should be licensed.

The Commissioners will be under intense scrutiny regarding their decision whilst facing insurmountable pressure from a city that needs a huge fight like Tyson-Lewis, to boost the lagging tourism that has been greatly affected by the tragedies of September 11.

The question of when the line of bad taste and unacceptable behaviour is crossed is what is really being debated here.

As an isolated incident, what happened in New York was no worse than Marco Antonio Barrera slugging Erik Morales on December 11 at a press conference in Houston or Fernando Vargas pushing Oscar De La Hoya last week in Los Angeles. The latter even saw Top Rank publicist Ricardo Jimenez sustain a broken leg.

The difference, however, is that when Tyson is involved, the world is watching. Every peep from him becomes a trumpet solo around the world. The fascination with the very public life of the former undisputed heavyweight champion seems to intensify every year as people gather to hear the latest exploits of the chap known the world over as the: “baddest man on the planet”.

Barrera-Morales II and De La Hoya-Vargas will go ahead in Vegas without question of any boxing licence being withheld or revoked. The problem with Tyson’s licence application is the pattern of behaviour that has been established over the last five years.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission has absolute power in the granting of licences to box as can be seen in the following excerpt of NRS 467.100, from it’s rules and regulations.

2. The commission may deny an application for a license or grant a limited, restricted or conditional license for any cause deemed sufficient by the commission.
3. An application for a license constitutes a request for a determination of the applicant’s general suitability, character, integrity, and ability to participate or engage in, or be associated with contests or exhibitions of unarmed combat. The burden of proof is on the applicant to establish to the satisfaction of the commission that the applicant is qualified to receive a license.

Mike Tyson is an emotional individual and can explode in rage as has been seen. But should we be so surprised considering the early years of his life when he grew up on the tough streets of Brownsville, Brooklyn? Tyson was a street thug who spent many years in juvenile detention. Just because he became heavyweight champion of the world, earned millions and millions of dollars and is famous the world over does not automatically make him a saint.

At the age of 35, Tyson is at the end of his career and one wonders where he will be in five years time?

He has done many unreported good deeds in his life, but that does not allow him to live outside the bounds of the rules of society. Yes, Tyson has received some rough justice from the press who have hounded him looking for his next slip-up, just as recently as a few weeks ago when a Tyson trip to Cuba resulted in another controversy. But in the end, only he can be held responsible for his actions and behaviour.

Many people have called for Tyson’s banning from the sport for the continual damage he does to boxing. But with the low depths boxing has always managed to reach itself, the banning of one individual, even if it is Mike Tyson, will not automatically see the sport arise with a new gleam and pristine image.

What is needed is a uniform standard of behaviour for all boxers and enforced measures of discipline around the world. But that would be as easy as determining how the world sanctioning bodies come up with many of their top ten rankings.

The ills of boxing are not all caused by Mike Tyson, but he must not cross the line of unacceptable behaviour, which needs to be clearly defined. The NFL, NBA and MLB in the USA have rigid standards of required behaviour, which are enforced. Boxing needs the same.

If Barrera-Morales II and De La Hoya-Vargas can go ahead in Las Vegas this year, there is no reason that Tyson-Lewis cannot also be allowed with “Iron Mike” being granted a conditional licence to box.

As the strongest, most active and influential of all the boxing licensing authorities in the USA, the Nevada State Athletic Commission needs to send a strong message to Tyson, Lewis and all boxers that unacceptable standards of behaviour both inside and outside the ring will not be tolerated.

Tyson may well be denied a licence to box in Nevada next week and I could well understand that decision. There is a torrent of anti-Tyson feelings flowing at the moment which are well founded and if you are going to make an impact on the sport, best to target boxing’s most well-known bad boy.

Only Tyson knows what his intentions were on Tuesday in New York when he strode across the podium towards Lewis. Maybe Tyson is really trying to make what may well be his last super-fight a contest. Maybe the termination of trainer Tommy Brooks services is an indication that Tyson wants to prepare differently with a new trainer who is prepared to push him to the limit. Brooks is trainer with proven credentials and is a genuine individual, but sometimes two people just don’t provide the right mix regardless of their abilities.

On the other hand, there are many who are convinced that Tyson is on the verge of self-destruction and Tuesday’s incident was a preview of worst to come.

If Tyson’s career does continue, the important question will be who is to be entrusted with the important task of not only whipping Tyson into shape, but keeping him focused on Lennox Lewis.

In a shallow pool of heavyweight talent, Tyson is still one of the best out there. Although he will never again be the “Iron” Mike Tyson of the 1980’s, a fit Tyson throwing multiple combinations and utilising good head movement could be a very interesting proposition for Lewis.

Regardless of how Tyson is prepared physically, it is his mental state that will determine whether he performs well in the ring or suffers another “meltdown”.

Early in his career, regular fights kept Tyson busy enough to stay out of trouble outside of the ring whilst maintaining his confidence inside it. A procession of brutal knockout victories saw him rumble through the heavyweight ranks destroying everything in his path.

Tyson needs a strong trainer who he trusts and respects. With Brooks now gone, the question of who would train Tyson remains?

Yoel Judah was present at Tuesday’s press conference and through son Zab’s friendship with Tyson, the New York trainer could be a candidate for the job. Australian Jeff Fenech has been a very good friend of Tyson since the late 1980’s and is one man that the heavyweight does respect. The three-time world champion spent a number of weeks training with Tyson in Las Vegas last year and would be interested in the job.

But any discussion of training preparation, trainers and licence issue will all be mute if Tyson is charged with rape in the coming weeks and subsequently faces trial. In the end, the judicial system will be the one to determine Tyson’s guilt or innocence and his long-term future.

Hopefully for Tyson’s sake, there will be no police charge or he will be found innocent in a court of law. If not, it will be a sad and wasted end to what was a great heavyweight talent.


Paul Upham
Contributing Editor