QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Q: Who gets the $30 million if Mike Tyson’s purse is withheld?

A: Though Tyson’s entire purse is being withheld, pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for Tuesday, the Nevada State Athletic Commission is legally entitled to permanently withhold only up to 10%. Any money withheld would be placed in an escrow account, pending potential challenges by the fighter’s camp. If a challenge fails, the money goes into the state’s general fund.

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Q: What power does the Nevada State Athletic Commission have to keep Tyson out of boxing? Or do any of the boxing organizations such as the WBA or WBC have the authority to do such a thing?

A: The Nevada commission has the power to suspend him only from Nevada, but most of the major boxing states--namely California, New York and New Jersey--recognize and uphold Nevada suspensions.

The World Boxing Assn., World Boxing Council and other sanctioning bodies have authority to disapprove fighters only from their own fights.

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Q: Will Evander Holyfield’s repaired ear be more susceptible to reopening in ensuing fights, if there are any for him?

A: No one is sure what the long-term physical effects of the bites will be, but because most punches are landed on the face or torso, it is unlikely the ear, once repaired by plastic surgery and assuming Holyfield is not bitten there again, will prove to be a major hindrance.

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Q: Tyson referred to his “family.” Who is his family?

A: Tyson married long-time girlfriend Monica Turner earlier this year. Turner gave birth to a girl, Rayna, in February and is pregnant with their second child. Tyson has three other children by other women. The family is never seen publicly.

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Q: Why would anybody even think to bite an opponent? Is this something that goes on in sparring or low-class fight gyms? This isn’t even allowed in Tough Man fights, where everything else is allowed. Has Tyson ever done this before, in sparring or in a match? Is there any disqualification for biting in boxing history?

A: Biting is not common, in matches or sparring. Tyson is not known to have bitten anyone before Saturday. Last year, heavyweight Andrew Golota, infamous for his low blows against Riddick Bowe in two disqualification losses, bit the shoulder of Samson Pou’ha during a victory. Golota was not penalized for the bite because it was not seen until a television replay after the round.

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Q: Were Tyson and Holyfield given AIDS tests before the fight?

A: By Nevada state law, all fighters are given and must pass AIDS tests before being licensed to fight.

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Q: Under the rules, could referee Mills Lane have stopped the fight after the first bite?

A: A referee can stop a fight any time he believes a flagrant foul has been committed.

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Q: Why didn’t Lane stop the fight immediately after the second bite, rather than waiting for the end of the round?

A: Lane was not clear about this decision, but since the second bite came so late in the third round (10 seconds left) he, like many referees do, waited until the break to make the ruling.

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Q: Did they ever make an announcement in the ring of who won the fight and why?

A: About five minutes after the stoppage, ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr. announced that Holyfield had won the fight because of flagrant fouling by Tyson had led to his disqualification.