Tyson Back, Raring for Rematch

Mike Tyson returned from Japan today, pledging to come back from his disputed heavyweight title loss to James (Buster) Douglas.

“I’ve lost before,” Tyson said as he was hustled through John F. Kennedy Airport. “It’s no big deal. I’ve always come back from a loss.”

Tyson said he hopes to get back in the ring soon.

“I feel great,” he said. “I have a slight swelling in my eye and, as soon as it goes down, I’m ready to go back to training.

“I had a pretty bad performance, but I’m not going to make excuses. I’m just going to go on and make better results.”

Among those who met Tyson’s Japan Air flight was Lou Duva, manager of Evander Holyfield, who was scheduled to fight Tyson for the heavyweight championship in June.

“When Tyson walked into the ring, I could see something was wrong,” Duva said. “He had no life. He didn’t have that drive. He’s not the fighter he was with Kevin Rooney.”

Tyson dismissed Rooney as his trainer a year ago. The Douglas bout on Sunday was his third title defense without Rooney in his corner.

Tyson was accompanied by promoter Don King, who lodged a protest with the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Assn. claiming Douglas had benefited from a long count after Tyson knocked the challenger down near the end of the eighth round.

King refused any comment.

Duva said the long count dispute was wrong.

“The ref is the boss in the ring at all times,” Duva said. “I think it would be a black eye for boxing if they take the title away from Douglas, but I know the way they operate, they might order a rematch. But as far as I’m concerned, Mike Tyson got knocked out.”

Tyson said of the long count controversy: “The referee said he made a bad mistake. Regardless of that, I’d be happy to get a rematch. I’ll be better prepared next time.”

Airport crowds who recognized Tyson shouted encouragement, and Tyson responded with a thumbs up sign as he climbed into a waiting limousine.