BOXING / STEVE SPRINGER : Tyson, King, Trump--Together Again?

One man has been financially bankrupt. The other has faced charges that he is morally bankrupt.

But in the world of boxing, neither problem is necessarily a reason for exclusion. And sure enough, these two men have now locked arms and are marching back into the ring together.

Donald Trump and Don King are trying to keep the comeback of former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson on track, right along with their own.

One way or another, the two plan on having Tyson fight Buster Mathis Jr. in the Atlantic City Convention Center on Dec. 16.

The fight was supposed to have taken place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Nov. 4, but it was postponed three days earlier when Tyson revealed that he had a broken bone in his right thumb.

Some insiders, citing lagging early ticket sales, rolled their eyes when the injury was made public. One source claimed the injury was either exaggerated or invented because the money would not have been available to pay Tyson his $10-million purse.

Tyson’s handlers, however, identified two orthopedic specialists who discovered the fracture.

There can be no argument over the fact that the fight was not an easy sell, despite the magic of Tyson’s name. For one thing, there was a pretty good heavyweight fight going on down the street between former champions Riddick Bowe and Evander Holyfield.

Then too, Tyson was coming off his disappointing return fight after three years in prison because of a rape conviction. His fight against Peter McNeeley in August lasted only 89 seconds.

Still, MGM Grand officials label as ridiculous any claims that there was no desire to go forward with Tyson-Mathis. One official said there would have been attendance of 10,000 in the 15,000-seat arena for the fight, the second stage of a six-fight agreement between Tyson and the MGM Grand.

When it didn’t happen, MGM Grand officials were left with a problem.

Tyson is scheduled to fight World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Frank Bruno at the hotel March 16. But even Tyson, with all his natural talent, is not ready to step into the ring for a title fight with 89 seconds of actual ring work in the last four years. He desperately needs a tune-up.

MGM Grand officials insist they would love to put on another Tyson fight first, even if it is against a questionable opponent such as Mathis.

“When Mike Tyson fights, it is an event,” said Jack Leone, an MGM Grand vice president. “That’s why we have an agreement with him.”

The problem is, the MGM Grand doesn’t want Tyson right now. December and January are normally busy months, and a heavyweight fight is not necessary to lure patrons.

That would push Tyson back to February. But that’s too late for him.

So enter Atlantic City. And Trump.

The oceanside gambling mecca has drawn one big boxing name after another this year, with Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, Roberto Duran and Pernell Whitaker all having fought there. Trump, who owns three Atlantic City casinos, wants to be the major player in the Atlantic City fight game.

It was three years ago that his Plaza Hotel in New York went bankrupt. But he is again a financial force, having put together a deal to have his three casinos join with two others to form the live-site promotion for Tyson-Mathis.

And why would King, Tyson’s promoter, want to join hands with Trump?

King has his own problems. He has been barred from doing business in New Jersey by that state’s Casino Control Commission since last year after his indictment on wire fraud charges. King’s trial ended in a mistrial last week, causing a debate among New Jersey officials over the advisability of lifting the ban on King.

Some see it as a great opportunity for Atlantic City. Others see it as hypocrisy, maintaining that the stiff rules, put in to keep the gangster element out, should not be lifted for someone like King.

That’s why King put Trump in his corner. It doesn’t hurt to have someone with Trump’s financial wallop in New Jersey running interference for him. And, if King’s appeal for a license gets a thumbs-down verdict, Trump, who already has a boxing license in that state, could serve as the promoter of record. Or Cedric Kushner, Mathis’ promoter, could take over the whole promotion, leaving King as a silent partner.

A loud silent partner, of course.

If it comes off, it could be a good deal for all involved. Tyson gets his tune-up. Mathis gets his chance for the upset of a lifetime. Trump gets a chance to take the reins in Atlantic City. King gets around his legal difficulties. And the MGM Grand gets exposure for Tyson, probably on free television, hyping its Tyson-Bruno matchup.

A boxing situation in which everybody wins. There’s an interesting concept.

*

Tale of the Red Tape: Azumah Nelson figured he was right on schedule. The former featherweight and super-featherweight champion, preparing to challenge WBC super-featherweight titleholder Gabe Ruelas on Friday at Fantasy Springs Casino outside Palm Springs, had already made the required weight of 130 pounds, was feeling good in workouts and was preparing to arrive in this country from his home in Ghana several weeks early.

Only one problem. His visa had expired.

No problem, he was told by Top Rank boxing official Dan Goossen. The visa would be renewed by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service and all Nelson would have to do is show up at the U.S. Embassy office nearest to his home to complete the paperwork.

At least it wouldn’t have been a problem if the U.S. government, paralyzed by a budget crisis, hadn’t shut down all but absolutely necessary services.

When Nelson arrived at the embassy, he found that no visas were being granted. Goossen was told by an embassy official that only matters of “life and death” were being handled.

“It will be our death if Nelson is not here,” Goossen replied.

When a compromise bill was finally agreed upon, Nelson got his visa and will be in Fantasy Springs on time. But, unfamiliar with American politics, Nelson didn’t believe any of it.

“The whole thing smells like a plot by Ruelas’ promoter and the American government,” Nelson said.

Right. Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich are big Ruelas fans.

Calendar

Monday--Jesse Magana vs. Robinson Cuesta, junior-featherweights; Asludden Umarov vs. Vince Durham, light-heavyweights; Alfred Ankamah vs. Antonio Barreto, junior-middleweights, Forum, 7 p.m.

Thursday--Michael Walsh vs. Cash McCallum, super-lightweights; Ricardo Fuentes vs. Victor Flores, featherweights; Rick Phillips vs. Tony Frey, heavyweights; Art Marcello vs. Domingo Sanchez, junior-welterweights; Mark Lewis vs. Carlos Marquez, junior-welterweights; Rodrigo Aranda vs. Jesus Robledo, junior-welterweights, Irvine Marriott, 7:30 p.m.