Tyson-Mathis to Philadelphia

New Jersey said no to a Mike Tyson-Buster Mathis Jr. fight in Atlantic City on Wednesday, so Don King is taking his show to Philadelphia.

The state’s Casino Control Commission, which barred King from doing business with casinos in Atlantic City last year, rejected Donald Trump’s plan to have five casinos sponsor the postponed bout at Convention Hall.

King then decided to go west--Philadelphia is 60 miles away--and got a warm reception from Mayor Ed Rendell and the boxing commission. King said he is licensed in Pennsylvania.

The fight will be held at the Spectrum on Dec. 16. It will be televised live on free television by Fox Sports, King said.

Tyson, who has recovered from the broken thumb that caused the fight’s postponement, has been sparring for 1 1/2 weeks and was unfazed by the change of venue, his co-manager, John Horne, said.

Track and Field

Florence Griffith Joyner says she’s making a comeback.

The 35-year-old world-record holder at 100 and 200 meters retired after winning gold medals in both events in the 1988 Olympics.

“I am training for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta,” Joyner said.

She set her world records in 1988, posting times of 10.49 in the 100 meters and 21.34 in the 200.

Golf

Tom Kite wants to be golf’s first player-captain in the Ryder Cup in 34 years.

“I plan on playing much better in ’96 and ’97 and actually playing on the team,” Kite said after PGA of America President Tom Addis introduced him as captain of the 1997 Ryder Cup team that will play in Spain.

Winter Olympics

Tom Welch, president of the Salt Lake Olympic Organizing Committee for the 2002 Winter Olympics, is upset about a deal that will pay him $315,000 a year in salary with a benefits package estimated at about $1 million.

“It’s not the money. It’s the message,” Welch said when the organizing committee board approved a salary-and-benefits package that reflects an “average compensation level” for a comparable position in a not-for-profit corporation.

“Since 1985, I’ve tried not to give an average performance,” Welch said, referring to the year he left Smith’s Food & Drug Centers to lead the Olympic bid.

“After 17 years my board recommends average pay. I guess that bothers me more than the money itself. The team we put together doesn’t provide average skills. Come 2002 and the Games are over, we’ll have fulfilled every promise we made.”

Compensation packages were formulated for Welch with the help of Towers Perrin, a Denver management consultant.

Towers Perrin Vice President Gene Wickes said Billy Payne, Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games president, makes $669,000 a year, the head of Calgary’s 1988 Winter Games earned $235,000 Canadian, and Peter Ueberroth received $263,000 annually for leading Los Angeles’ 1984 Summer Games.

Pro Football

Congress should give professional sports leagues more power to stop teams such as the Cleveland Browns from moving from city to city, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said.

Tagliabue was testifying at a Senate Antitrust Subcommittee hearing on the proposed shift of the Browns to Baltimore next year and possible moves of several other teams.

He said sports leagues should get an antitrust exemption for decisions on issues such as franchise shifts.

Ohio Sens. Mike DeWine and John Glenn and Cleveland Mayor Michael White said it was wrong to move a team such as the Browns, which had such loyal fans and strong support.

Boxing

Paul Labbe, a lightweight/welterweight contender in the 1930s and ‘40s, died Tuesday at Lewiston, Me. He was 88.