Tyson Plans to Fight Even if Request Fails

Mike Tyson has serious financial problems.

And because of that, he will fight again, even without the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s blessing.

That was what Shelly Finkel, advisor to the two-time former heavyweight champion, said Thursday, offering a preview of the presentation to be made Saturday at a formal hearing in front of the commission.

Tyson, Finkel and a group of lawyers and advisors will ask the commissioners to give Tyson back the license they took away in July 1997 after Tyson was disqualified in a heavyweight title match against Evander Holyfield for biting Holyfield’s ears.

“Mike has financial problems,” Finkel said. “A man has to earn a living. This is how he earns his, by fighting.”

Finkel insisted that Tyson, who has been seeing psychiatrists more than once a week for the past several months, has learned to control his rage to the extent that the ugly scene in the Holyfield fight will never be repeated.

“He [Tyson] would rather die than have that happen again in the ring,” Finkel said.

Finkel said that the recent incident in Maryland involving Tyson should not have an effect on the hearing. Two men in Gaithersburg, Md., have filed criminal complaints, claiming that Tyson assaulted them after an auto accident.

“In America,” Finkel said, “I understand that you are innocent until proven guilty.”

If the commission rules against Tyson, Finkel said he has other choices.

“I have had calls from all over the world,” Finkel said. “There are very lucrative offers out there.”

Finkel took the blame for Tyson’s attempt to get around the Nevada commission by applying to the New Jersey commission, only to withdraw his request when it became obvious that political pressure was going to force the New Jersey commissioners to turn Tyson down.

“I made a mistake,” Finkel said.

Finkel doesn’t expect Tyson to have a vocal outburst Saturday as he did when he went before the New Jersey commissioners.

“He was almost in tears before that hearing,” Finkel said. “I believe he is still under a lot of emotional strain, but I believe he will handle it better Saturday.”

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Tyson showed up at Caesars Palace on Thursday for a luncheon honoring Elias Ghanem, head of the Nevada commission, but chose not to speak about his situation.

Asked if he will attend tonight’s World Boxing Council welterweight title fight between Oscar De La Hoya and Julio Cesar Chavez, Tyson replied, “I have no tickets and no one invited me.”

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De La Hoya weighed in at 146 1/2 pounds, half a pound below the limit. Chavez came in at 144 1/2.

Also on tonight’s card, International Boxing Federation junior-middleweight champion Yory Boy Campas (71-2, 61 knockouts) defends his title against Larry Barnes (44-2, 17 knockouts).

And International Boxing Assn. super-lightweight champion Antonio Diaz (22-2, 17 knockouts) puts his title up against Hector Quiroz (25-2-1, 21 knockouts).

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Former lightweight boxing champion Pernell Whitaker avoided jail time when his reckless-driving sentence was reduced on appeal in Virginia Beach, Va. The judge overturned an earlier sentence of 90 days in jail with all but two suspended, instead sentencing Whitaker to 90 days, all suspended, and fined him $1,250. . . . Michael Carbajal, 31, the former flyweight champion who retired from boxing a year ago, has launched a comeback. He is in training in Phoenix to fight a yet-to-be-determined opponent next month.

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The Associated Press contributed to this story.