Tyson Talk Is Just That to Officials

Officials of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, although concerned about Mike Tyson’s threat in Sunday’s Times to bite again if he believes it necessary during a fight, will judge the two-time former heavyweight boxing champion only by his deeds.

“That’s newspaper talk,” said Marc Ratner, executive director of the Nevada commission, of Tyson’s comments. “I have to respond to what he does in the ring. I can’t be policing everything he says.”

Tyson’s license was revoked by the Nevada commission in 1997 for biting both of Evander Holyfield’s ears in their title rematch.

Tyson, who is scheduled to fight Orlin Norris at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena on Oct. 23, said he bit Holyfield because he wasn’t being protected from head butts by referee Mills Lane.

Dr. James Nave, the Nevada commissioner who cast the lone dissenting vote last October when Tyson was given his license back, agrees with Ratner that no further action should be taken now.

“I am more interested in what Mike Tyson does with his feet in the ring than what he says with his mouth,” Nave said. “But I did read what he said and it will remain in my memory bank. I’m disappointed. These kinds of remarks are not good for boxing.”