Tyson’s Release Rejected : Boxing: Judge cites educational shortfalls as ex-champion still refuses to admit to rape.

Mike Tyson says he has grown up enough in prison to know he should have walked a beauty contestant downstairs from his hotel room, but still staunchly denies raping her.

The judge who listened to the former boxing champ plead for a reduced sentence Monday said he showed signs of rehabilitation, but sent Tyson back to prison anyway.

“I should have been more polite,” he told Marion Superior Court Judge Patricia J. Gifford near the close of the three-hour hearing. “I should have walked her downstairs. I should have been more gentlemanly to her.”

Gifford said Tyson is bettering himself, but said his plea to leave prison early tripped over education requirements.

Indiana law requires an inmate with less than two years on his term to complete an academic or vocational program, and show signs of rehabilitation, to get a reduced sentence.

Tyson listened impassively as the judge refused to free him, then slowly stood up to be led back to prison by sheriff’s deputies.

“They want to keep him in jail as long as possible,” appeals attorney Alan Dershowitz said. “They’ve got a trophy.”

Tyson has served 26 months of a six-year sentence. With time off for good behavior, he could be released next May.

Muhammed Siddeeq, who has taught Tyson math and science at the Indiana Youth Center and urged the judge to free him, talked with the former heavyweight boxing champion after the hearing.

“He put his arm around me and said ‘Brother, don’t worry about me,’ ” Siddeeq said.

Tyson read a statement to Gifford boasting of raising his reading level from fourth to 12th grade and saying that if freed to do community service, “I wouldn’t disappoint you, myself or my family.”

But Gifford said he had not completed any study program. In March, Tyson failed a high school degree program--by one point--and lost a chance to trim six months from his sentence.

Although Gifford rested her decision on education requirements, she and Deputy Prosecutor Mark Sullivan questioned Tyson closely about remorse and atonement.

“Have you ever apologized, publicly or privately to Desiree Washington, for what happened?” Sullivan asked. Tyson answered, “No, I believe I’m innocent of this charge, and I don’t have any reason to apologize.”

Gifford asked, “What can you tell me that would assure me this would never happen again?”

“I only give you my word,” he said.

Under further questioning from Sullivan, Tyson said, “I committed no crime and I’m going to stick with that to my grave.”