- Title: Mike Tyson scorns plan for pro boxing at Olympic Games
- Date: 25th May 2016
- Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (MAY 25, 2016) (REUTERS) FORMER WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING CHAMPION MIKE TYSON POSING FOR PHOTOS AND WALKING AWAY WITH SECURITY ESCORT TYSON WALKING INTO ROOM AND TAKING SEAT TYSON TALKING, LAUGHING (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING CHAMPION, MIKE TYSON, SAYING: "It's ridiculous, it's foolish, and some of the pro fighters are going to get beat by the amateurs. It's just going to happen, some of them are going to get beat, I think, I really believe that. If they are like the amateur fighters that I was fighting in the '80s, like Stevenson and those guys, and all those guys were fighting with the Russians and the Cubans, they are going to beat some of the champions. It's just going to happen. For three rounds, four rounds, some of the professional boxers are not going to be able to catch these guys. These guys will be fast for three or four rounds, and these guys are not going to be accustomed to that." TYSON TALKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING CHAMPION, MIKE TYSON, SAYING: "I don't know, I'm not watching any fighters. One guy, Tyson Fury, I like to watch him because he has my name and stuff, so, yeah other than that, no. I like Tyson Fury. Everybody says "ah, he's a bum", but I like him. The fact that somebody would name their son after me and all the stuff I've been through, and all that ugly, nasty... yeah, I like him, I like Tyson Fury." TYSON'S HAND MAKING GESTURES (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING CHAMPION, MIKE TYSON, SAYING: "Well, hey, listen, I don't know but he (Tyson Fury) is the only one that beat him (Wladimir Klitschko) out of the 23 defences, all those other guys were supposed to be tough guys and great fighters, but they didn't beat him (Klitschko). He (Fury) won, so what are you going to say? That this guy (Fury) is still a bum, but he beat the greatest fighter in the last 15 years. I don't know, you tell me." TYSON'S FACE (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING CHAMPION, MIKE TYSON, TALKING ABOUT SUGGESTIONS OF FLOYD MAYWEATHER FIGHTING MIXED MARTIAL ARTS FIGHTER CONOR MCGREGOR, SAYING: "Well that's good, that's good for entertainment and money, but it's going to be very difficult... how, what rules? Are they going to do the boxing rules? If they do the boxing rules, then he's (Conor McGregor) not going to do well. If they do MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) rules, then he's going to do very well." TYSON'S HAND MAKING GESTURES TYSON TALKING
- Embargoed: 9th June 2016 08:18
- Keywords: Mike Tyson Olympic Games Beijing
- Location: BEIJING, CHINA
- City: BEIJING, CHINA
- Country: China
- Topics: Boxing,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0014JB20XR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Mike Tyson said on Wednesday (May 25) that it was "ridiculous" and "foolish" for professional boxers to compete in the Olympic Games, during an interview in Beijing before the IBF flyweight title fight.
Thailand's Amnat Ruenroeng defends his IBF title against challenger Johnreil Casimero of the Philippines later on Wednesday in Beijing.
Tyson said the professional boxers could in fact be beaten by the amateurs because Olympic amateur boxing is fast and furious point scoring and the professionals may not be accustomed that.
"It's ridiculous, it's foolish, and some of the pro fighters are gonna get beat by the amateurs," he said.
"These guys (the amateurs) will be fast for three or four rounds, and these guys (the professionals) are not going to be accustomed to that."
Professional fighters will feature at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics as long as a constitutional change goes through in June, the international boxing federation AIBA said earlier this year.
The decision by AIBA to begin procedures to open the door for pro boxers to compete alongside amateurs at the Games means the sport could get increased exposure with potentially big-name fighters taking part.
The move has also earned a lot of criticism as many argue it would be unfair to the thousands of amateurs who have trained for the Games for years and now have to possibly make way for the pros.
Asked if he had a favourite fighter, Tyson said he wasn't too sure but British heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury could steal the spot considering his first name. "Everybody says "ah, he's a bum", but I like him. The fact that somebody would name their son after me and all the stuff I've been through, and all that ugly, nasty... yeah, I like him," he laughed.
Fury stunned Ukrainian Klitschko in Dusseldorf in November to win the WBA, WBO and IBF belts, although he has since relinquished the IBF title, which was then claimed by fellow Briton Anthony Joshua.
Fury's world heavyweight championship rematch with Klitschko will take place in Manchester on July 9, and Tyson said it was hard to predict who would win.
"Well, hey, listen, I don't know but he (Fury) is the only one that beat him (Klitschko) out of the 23 defences, all those other guys were supposed to be tough guys and great fighters, but they didn't beat him," he said.
Tyson also commented on a possible return to the ring for Floyd Mayweather. The retired multi-division champion has been dropping hints of a potential bout against outspoken Irish mixed-martial arts fighter Conor McGregor.
"Well that's good, that's good for entertainment and money," Tyson, said. "But it's going to be very difficult... how, what rules? Are they going to do the boxing rules? If they do the boxing rules, then he's (Conor McGregor) not going to do well. If they do MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) rules, then he's going to do very well."
Tyson, who holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight titles, came to the capital for the 33rd IBF convention, which will conclude on Friday (May 27). - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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