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Tyson will fight if money's right
23/02/2003 21:43 - (SA)
Memphis, Tennessee - Mike Tyson's price tag for fighting a rematch with Lennox Lewis went up as quickly as Clifford Etienne went down.
The 36-year-old former undisputed heavyweight champion flattened his fellow American in 49 seconds here on Saturday. Then Tyson pointed out he has better things to do with his time than trade punches with bigger British boxer Lewis.
"I like doing other things. I like getting high," Tyson said. "I like being with my kids. I want to do what I want to do."
Lewis stopped Tyson in the eighth round here last June and delayed booking another fight to see how Tyson fared against Etienne. Tyson was impressive but said he wanted more tuneup fights before another title bout with Lewis.
"I am not ready to fight Lennox Lewis," Tyson said. "I'm not interested in getting beat up again."
Tyson saying he cannot win is different from saying he will not try if the money is right, and two divorces plus debts to telecaster Showtime add to Tyson's financial motivation for another try at Lewis sooner rather than later.
Promoters might offer 20 million reasons, in dollars, for Tyson to risk it. Tyson made five million dollars, or nearly 100 000 dollars a second, in beating Etienne and admitted "I always need the money" and "I have to feed my kids."
Another critical factor is that Lewis might retire rather than wait for Tyson to find his form. The World Boxing Council champion has said he might not fight again unless he gets a king's ransom, a prize only Tyson's appeal offers.
Lewis seeks big money now. He sacrificed one title to bypass United States southpaw Chris Byrd, now the International Boxing Federation champion, and risks another by ignoring WBC mandatory challenger Vitali Klitschko of Ukraine.
"Time is something we can't get away from," said Freddie Roach, Tyson's trainer. "He has been fighting for a long time. He showed glimpses of (top form). He can do better."
Three years in prison for rape, another term for assault, a one-year ring banishment for biting Evander Holyfield's ears and scores of violent incidents in and out of the ring have made Tyson a profitable curiosity for promoters.
How great is the Tyson curiosity factor? The crowd of 15 171 who attended Tyson-Etienne here was only 256 fewer than attended Tyson-Lewis, although there were considerably fewer celebrities and fight week parties.
But Tyson, who called himself "a domesticated animal" and "just awful", said he has personal self-loathing issues to handle before he worries about Lewis.
"(Screw) him. He doesn't fit in with my whole thing," Tyson said. "I have some issues I have to clear up. There's a lot of stuff I have to deal with. I have some serious, serious demons I'm fighting.
"I don't like Mike Tyson too much. I need to take care of me before I can take care of anybody else. I'm pretty hungry but being hungry is not enough to beat a consumate professional."
Tyson criticised his own lack of training and desire in past bouts.
"I haven't been a professional in a long time," he said. "I don't have a high crescendo about my boxing career. I haven't received a lot of dignity from it. I have received a lot of pain."
He is about to receive offers for a lot of money to fight Lewis. Roach was confident Tyson could beat Lewis with the proper training and focus, although he said a rematch with Holyfield and fights in Europe have also been discussed.
"Money makes the world go around," Roach said. "It's a tough question. I would like to see Mike have another fight or two before then. But he needs to get back to training right now if he wants to fight (Lewis) next." - Sapa-AFP
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