USA: MIKE TYSON HAS BEEN GRANTED A LICENCE BY THE WASHINGOTN, D.C., BOXING AND WRESTLING COMMISSION FOR A BOUT WITH HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION LENNOX LEWIS

Record ID: 647542

  • Title: USA: MIKE TYSON HAS BEEN GRANTED A LICENCE BY THE WASHINGOTN, D.C., BOXING AND WRESTLING COMMISSION FOR A BOUT WITH HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION LENNOX LEWIS
  • Date: 19th February 2002
  • Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (RECENT) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) 1. MIKE TYSON IN BRAWL WITH LENNOX LEWIS WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES (FEBRUARY 19, 2002) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) 2. PRESS CONFERENCE 3. SOUNDBITE: (English) MICHAEL BROWN - DC BOXING COMMISSION SAYING "We are pleased to announce today that we have taken the initial step forward to licensing Mike Tyson to the District of Columbia. There are several steps that need to transpire before he gets this piece of paper. His actual license before he is able to box here. There are a lot of things that need to be done then. Lennox Lewis has to apply then approve and get his liscence. A lot of the promoters, the managers, a lot of people, a lot of things need to get done before we actually have everything tied up in a pretty little bow. But this was the initial step, a big step and we are glad we made it. And again superseding can come in and get involved and things can transpire differently. But at this standpoint we are pleased to say we are glad to liscencing Mike Tyson in the District of Columbia." 4. PROTESTERS HOLDING SIGNS 5. SOUNDBITE: (English) TERRY O"REILLY - CHAIMAN OF NOW SAYING "This is not the man that should be held out as some sort of role model for the boys and girls for the District of Columbia." 6. BOXING PROMOTER ROCK NEWMAN AT MEDIA SCRUM 7. SOUNDBITE: (English) ROCK NEWMAN SAYING "I think that Lennox is a strange character. I mean he is a 6 foot 6 fighting heavyweight champion. And he is very deliberate at everything that he does. It is not out of character for him take his time and coming around to make his decision. Whether as competitively if he wants this fight or not, as champion I think he does. It would be the crowning jewel on his career to beat someone with a marquis of Mike Tyson so I got to expect deep down he is looking to have this thing. (REPORTER QUESTION: Rock Newman makes a bet to say this fight will go off or not. Do you think it would?) NEWMAN ANSWER: "I wouldn't bet. I think that it has the potential to but I would not bet with any certainty." WASHINGTON DC(FILE)(REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) 8. EXTERIOR OF WASHINGTON CAPITAL WASHINGTON D.C.(FEBRUARY 19TH, 2002)(REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) 9. SOUNDBITE(English) LATOYA FOSTER - RESIDENT OF WASHINGTON SAYING "I just think it would be a great situation for our city. I think it is going to bring in lots of revenue. It is a win, win for everyone." 10. SOUNDBITE(English) CALVIN - RESIDENT OF WASHINGTON SAYING "It s good to have Tyson here for the fight because, I mean the man has got to make a living, This is the way he is going to make a living from the start we should go and let him continue this. I would like to have ringside if I can get that. I say let the man go ahead and fight." 11. MCI CENTER IN WASHINGTON Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 6th March 2002 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: WASHINGTON D.C./NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA2O550M1W0VP0F34XFTMP4CMF4
  • Story Text: Boxing bad boy Mike Tyson was granted a license on
    Tuesday by the Washington, D.C., Boxing and Wrestling
    Commission for a bout with heavyweight world champion Lennox
    Lewis in June.



    Commission Vice Chairman Mike Brown told Reuters the
    three-member panel approved Tyson's request for a boxing
    license that could allow he and Lewis to meet on June 8 at the
    city's MCI Center.

    "We've decided to move forward with Mr. Tyson's
    application," Brown said. "We're still in the running with
    some other cities, but are hopeful."
    The 35-year-old Tyson was set to fight Lewis in Las Vegas
    on April 6 for $150 million, the richest fight in boxing
    history. But the state of Nevada refused to grant a license
    for that fight after the two boxers brawled during a news
    conference last month.

    Brown said the commission hopes a Tyson-Lewis fight could
    bring a much-needed economic boost to the D.C. restaurant and
    hotel industry that has suffered since the Sept. 11 attacks.

    "If this can provide a boost to get people back in
    spending money and doing business, we are all in favor. And
    that outweighs any issues concerning Mr. Tyson's past," said
    Brown.

    Tyson has been scrambling to find another venue for the
    fight and had been rejected by the states of Texas and Georgia
    before receiving the go-ahead from Washington.

    Tyson's storied career has been riddled with legal
    problems including a 1992 conviction of rape. In 1997, Tyson
    was banned for a year after he bit Evander Holyfield's ear
    during a world title fight.

    The National Organization for Women were protesting teh
    possible fight today the press conference. Membershipo Vice
    President Terry O"Neill is not please with the boxing
    committee's decision to bring the fight here. This is not the
    man that should be held out as some sort of role model for the
    boys and girls for the District of Columbia."
    Former promoter of heavyweight boxer Riddick Bowe, Rock
    Newman, talked about what a big fight this would for Lennox
    Lewis in his career. "It would be the crowning jewel on his
    career to beat someone with a marquis of Mike Tyson so I got
    to expect deep down he is looking to have this thing."
    The fight would be held at the MCI Center in Washington
    if the fight was going to be held.


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