The Verdict’s In: Ex-Champ Is a Chump

For years, Mike Tyson has been given the benefit of the doubt. All the bad events in his life happened out of view of the vast public who saw him in the ring. There were always conflicting stories, conflicting statements by witnesses.

Well, this time Tyson’s ugliness happened in front of the entire world: no conflicting stories or accounts. Those who didn’t see the fight saw the spectacle of the bully in all his evil nastiness on the news.

No excuses, no heat-of-the-moment alibi, just a feeble “look what he’s done to my face.” If Tyson was so worried about his face, he shouldn’t have become a boxer.

MICHAEL SOLOMON

Los Angeles

*

The typical pattern for abusers is to do serious damage, blame someone else or say they “snapped,” then return with a bouquet of flowers and a convincing apology saying they’ll “never do it again.” But there is always a next time, with progressive destruction and even death. Tyson’s life and career fit this pattern. Are we the public, like a battered mate, going to soften at his remorseful anguish and take him back? Over my dead body.

SHERRY BARBER

Whittier

*

How can the sport allow Tyson to continue fighting? What kind of message are they sending to fans, young and old, about playing by the rules? The sorry answer is spelled m-o-n-e-y. Money wins, money talks, money is king.

JULIA COOPER

San Diego

*

Finally an athlete who stood up and admitted his mistake. I may be one of the few who applaud Mike Tyson and respect this athlete for doing what few other athletes in modern times are willing to do, admit to a terrible mistake.

Mike Tyson took a big step backward as a fighter Saturday night, but a bigger step forward Monday by admitting his error. Before all of you start casting your stones, think about the last time you publicly admitted a error in judgment.

SCOTT TORNEY

Huntington Beach

*

Mike Tyson should be banned from fighting ever again. If not, serious thought should be given to banning the sport of boxing once and for all in the United States.

Boxing has seen great moments and great athletes, and what happened Saturday night in Las Vegas is an affront to those memories. Boxing legends like Rocky Marciano and Sugar Ray Robinson must be turning over in their graves. People applauded Muhammad Ali and tears came to their eyes when he carried the Olympic torch, because he was great.

Even the sport’s most ardent supporters were shocked and horrified by Tyson’s conduct. Evander Holyfield represents the best of the sport today, and there must be a cleansing--by denying Tyson the right to ever fight again--if the sport’s integrity is to be restored . . . or else there can be no justification for allowing any more fights to take place in this country.

TIMOTHY D. NAEGELE

Malibu

*

I find it incredibly sad that corporate sponsors are only now considering Tyson to be a business liability. The man is a convicted felon; he raped a teenage girl and beat his wife. He is a brute, a vicious beast who cannot control himself, either in his public or private life.

Holyfield is fortunate: He matches the strength of Tyson, and receives a ridiculously large paycheck for what abuse he does suffer. He has a referee to look out for him. Tyson’s other victims, helpless females overpowered by physical strength, didn’t stand a chance. Yet, the biting of an ear seems to be more controversial than his vicious attacks on women. If his previous crimes had been given the weight they deserved, he would no longer be fighting.

The boxing and business worlds share responsibility for this man’s actions.

DONNA BLACK

Fullerton

*

As he demonstrated Saturday night, Tyson has no sense of sportsmanship, let alone any shred of dignity. I’ve never understood why boxing fans have supported a convicted rapist. In my opinion, supporting Tyson would be like supporting O.J. Simpson’s return to the NFL.

BRANDON C. ZIMMERMAN

Fountain Valley

*

I don’t understand the fuss over Tyson biting off a piece of Holyfield’s ear. Biting off a piece of someone’s ear merely creates a cosmetic problem. It only affects how someone looks, and even that can be minimized with reconstructive surgery. Beating someone’s brains in until they become a semi-vegetable causes a serious and irreversible medical condition that ends up afflicting most boxers. If beating on a person’s head until they become permanently punch drunk is considered sporting, how can anyone complain about a little ear biting?

ALLEN D. ALLEN

Studio City

*

I cannot adequately address the outrageously unacceptable comment by Tyson’s manager that Holyfield “acted like a bitch” when he was bitten except to say that Tyson and boxing need a complete change of certain company. I’m not suggesting Tyson isn’t responsible for his own behavior. He certainly is, but with equal certainty this is a troubled man in need of help, and forget about Tyson the boxer, because without change there should be no such thing, and I don’t mean limited to Iron Mike. Tyson didn’t drag down boxing June 28, he sank to the low level where it is currently and came face to face with his own manager.

DOUGLAS LITTLETON

San Marino

*

At least now we know why God was on Holyfield’s side.

BOB WARNER

Altadena

*

How barbaric of Tyson! Didn’t he realize that the goal in boxing is not to do outer ear damage, but brain damage?

PAUL TRACY

Oceanside

*

An ex-pug’s opinion: I’ve been saying for years that fighters should wear head gear when they fight. Really, is nipping a fighter in the ear any worse than damaging the opponent’s brain by continuously pounding him in the head?

JOEY BARNUM

El Monte

*

If the fight had been held at Caesar’s Palace, then what Tyson did would have been understandable. After all, didn’t Mark Antony say, “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears?”

RICK EGENDORF

Tustin