Tyson’s Get-Rich Scheme Is Not Quick

Meet the new Mike Tyson, cautious and conservative.

He has selected Dan Goossen of America Presents as his new promoter, but for only two fights.

And only after Goossen’s company agreed to Tyson’s request for a $5-million loan. America Presents will get $2 1/2 million back from Tyson after each fight and also will earn about $5,000,000 per fight.

Goossen, of course, hopes he does such a good job that Tyson elects to stay with him. And that may well be the case.

But after feeling he was badly burned by Don King, Tyson wants to proceed slowly.

The two-time former heavyweight champion is expected to decide this weekend on a proposed comeback Jan. 16 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena against Francois Botha of South Africa.

Since regaining his boxing license from the Nevada State Athletic Commission several weeks ago, a license that was revoked in 1997 after Tyson bit Evander Holyfield on both ears in their title rematch, Tyson recently has cleared another hurdle on his return to the ring.

Both of the men who alleged he struck them in the wake of a traffic accident in Maryland in August have settled with Tyson. Prosecutors in Maryland still could go forward with a criminal case but that now seems unlikely.

Tyson’s biggest problem now would seem to be financial. He has been slapped with a $13-million tax lien on property he owns. The America Presents loan should help. Tyson also has signed a new five-fight agreement with the Showtime cable network, and a multi-fight deal with the MGM Grand is under discussion.

Shelly Finkel will serve as Tyson’s new manager, operating under the title consultant. Jesse Reid is expected to be named Tyson’s new trainer.

And what about Magic Johnson, who spoke for Tyson at the Nevada hearing and expressed an interest in being his promoter?

For now, the former Laker superstar is referred to in the Tyson camp as “another consultant and a valuable asset.”

OSCAR: THE NEW GAME PLAN

The future of World Boxing Council welterweight champion Oscar De La Hoya, blurred by a left uppercut that split his eyelid, is back in focus.

The injury, which occurred in a sparring session at De La Hoya’s Big Bear training headquarters a week ago, forced postponement of his title defense Nov. 21 against Ike Quartey.

They now will fight Feb. 13 at Las Vegas’ Thomas & Mack Center.

As for the rest of 1999?

“We’ve had to regroup and everything will now get pushed back,” Bob Arum, De La Hoya’s promoter, said.

De La Hoya had been scheduled to fight either Frankie Randall or Oba Carr in February on HBO. Arum is considering a Randall-Carr fight on the Feb. 13 card, De La Hoya then fighting the winner on HBO in May at either Las Vegas or New York’s Madison Square Garden.

“It depends on what they each offer,” Arum said. “The benefit of New York is the exposure, but if it’s too much of a financial sacrifice, we’ll hold the fight in Las Vegas.”

Arum had hoped to match De La Hoya against Felix Trinidad in May if Trinidad’s tangled contract situation gets unraveled, but that fight, which would be on pay-per-view, has now been put off until at least September.

De La Hoya also wants to fight once more in 1999, in November.

QUICK JABS

Holyfield and Lennox Lewis have been offered $10 million Canadian for a heavyweight fight at the Toronto SkyDome. Translated into U.S. dollars, the Canadian offer is about $6.5 million, about $1.5 million shy of what King is asking and well off the $8.3-million bid of Madison Square Garden.

The vacant International Boxing Assn. bantamweight title will be filled tonight, barring a draw, when Sergio Aguila (22-12, 13 knockouts) takes on Luis Rolon (18-3, 11 knockouts) at the Reseda Country Club. Rolon is coming off a loss by decision to International Boxing Federation flyweight champion Mark Johnson. Also on tonight’s card, World Boxing Union super bantamweight champion Carlos Navarro (16-0, 13 knockouts) of Los Angeles fights Marcos Badillo (15-4, five knockouts) in a 10-round nontitle bout. First bell is at 6 p.m.

Monday at the Forum in a 10-rounder, Jose Badillo (21-2, 15 knockouts) will battle Antonio Ramirez (11-0-4, 10 knockouts) in the last semifinal match of the Forum’s junior- lightweight tournament. Also on the card will be the North American Boxing Organization welterweight title fight. Edgar Ruiz (13-1-1, nine knockouts) and Jose Luis Benitez (19-2, 16 knockouts) will fight for the vacant title. First fight begins at 7:15.

On Tuesday, two longtime boxing figures in Southern California, spanning the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s, will be honored at a joint birthday luncheon beginning at noon at the Spaghetti Factory on Sunset Boulevard. George Latka, a lightweight who fought from 1937 to 1942 and went on to become a trainer, manager and referee, is celebrating his 84th birthday. Art Aragon, a welterweight from 1944 to 1959, and the man known as “the Golden Boy” before De La Hoya was even born, will be 71.

CALENDAR

Tonight--Bantamweight Sergio Aguila vs. Luis Rolon for IBA title; super bantamweight Carlos Navarro vs. Marcos Badillo, Reseda Country Club, 6 p.m. Monday--Welterweight Edgar Ruiz vs. Jose Luis Benitez for NABO title; junior-lightweight Jose Badillo vs. Antonio Ramirez, Forum, 7:15 p.m.