SOUTH AFRICA: BOXING - Former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson visits South Africa to help a children's charity
Record ID:
455801
SOUTH AFRICA: BOXING - Former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson visits South Africa to help a children's charity
- Title: SOUTH AFRICA: BOXING - Former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson visits South Africa to help a children's charity
- Date: 30th January 2008
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) MIKE TYSON, FORMER WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION, ASKED WHERE HE THINKS HE RANKS IN BOXING'S CHAMPIONS, REPLYING: "Well that choice is not up to me, that's up for the fans to decide basically and the sport analysts. I am just here to do the job. Now it's over, it's over, so I guess it's up to the sports analysts and the fans to decide where I rank in that division" REPORTER ASKING: But how would you like to be remembered as a fighter? MIKE TYSON REPLYING: "I am just happy to be remembered" PHOTOGRAPHERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) MIKE TYSON, FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION, SAYING WHO HE THINKS WAS GREATEST EVER: "No doubt Muhammad Ali REPORTER ASKS WHY MIKE TYSON SAYING: "It's just for obvious reasons because with Muhammad Ali, he had such a desire to win, he had great speed, great anticipation, great mind and it's just the anticipation, to win and to win, he was just an animal, he was the greatest" MORE OF THE MEDIA AND SPECTATORS (SOUNDBITE) (English) MIKE TYSON, FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION, SAYING: "I don't think I am interested in fighting no more in a playful manner, no more. I don't think I like it anymore, I don't think I like it as a sport. I don't watch it as much as I used to. It's not as exciting to me as it once was. I think I have somewhat of a bad taste of fighting in my mouth for good" MORE OF BOXING OFFICIALS (SOUNDBITE) (English) MIKE TYSON, FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION, SAYING OF POSSIBLY MEETING WINNE MANDELA: "I am not confirmed if I am going to meet her or not, you cannot be a human being and live under human circumstances and not be a fan of Winnie Mandela's, she is just a spirited woman and just she represents everything as far as overcoming" MORE OF THE MEDIA
- Embargoed: 14th February 2008 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: South Africa
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: People,Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA6P1QDNZAPAKWFM74GSVR5ZIH2
- Story Text: Former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson arrived in South Africa for the first time on Tuesday (January 29) ahead of the Fire and Brimstone charity boxing tournament this weekend in Johannesburg.
Tyson will also attend a banquet in aid of the charity on Wednesday at which Jacob Zuma, the controversial leader of South Africa's governing African National Congress, will be a keynote speaker. The banquet is intended to benefit several charities that help underprivileged children.
Asked at a news conference about his place in world history, how he would like to be remembered and who he thought was the greatest ever boxer, Tyson said it was up to the fans and sports analysts to rank him, he was happy just to be remembered -- and Muhammad Ali was undoubtedly the greatest ever boxer.
Tyson said he had lost a lot of his interest in boxing because it was no longer so exciting for him.
U.S.-born Tyson, who in 1986 became the youngest man to win the world heavyweight title, has been in trouble with the law again since a rape conviction in 1992. He served three months in jail in 1999 for assaulting two people after a traffic accident. Last year, he pleaded guilty to drug possession and driving under the influence.
The boxer shocked the world and was banned from boxing for a year when he bit a chunk out of rival Evander Holyfield's ear during a 1997 title bout in Las Vegas. He has since retired from the sport. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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