Tyson, Norris Trying to Stay Afloat

He is doubted.

He is denigrated.

He is seen as a former champion who will never again strap a world title belt around his waist.

He is Mike Tyson.

But he is also Orlin Norris.

Many of the same things have been said about the men who will fight in tonight’s 10-round main event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

But whereas Tyson, a two-time former heavyweight champion who will be making only his second appearance in the ring in the last 28 months, is regarded by many as a has-been, Norris is considered a never-was.

At 5 feet 10, 218 pounds and lacking punching power, Norris doesn’t appear to belong in the upper tier of the heavyweight division. His record is 50-5 with 27 knockouts, but Norris has fought only a few recognizable heavyweights this decade--with mixed results.

He was TKO’d by Bert Cooper and won a decision over Oliver McCall in 1990, lost a decision to Tony Tucker in 1991, came back to beat Tucker on a decision in 1996, then lost a decision to Henry Akinwande, whose best offensive weapon is holding onto his opponent for dear life, in 1997.

It’s hardly the kind of resume to kindle hope among Norris’ few scattered supporters when he enters the ring against 10 1/2-1 favorite Tyson, maybe not what he once was, but still more than Norris ever figures to be in this division.

“Every man is a man,” Norris said. “We all have attributes. If I use mine as well as you use yours, I can be effective.”

Because of his size, Norris has been most effective as a cruiserweight. In that division, he was a giant, winning the World Boxing Assn. title on a sixth-round knockout of Marcelo Figueroa in Paris in 1993. Norris successfully defended that title four times before losing it to Nate Miller in London in 1995, Miller knocking Norris out in the eighth round.

Seven months after the loss to Miller, Norris, having added 32 pounds, returned to where he’d wanted to be all along, wading back into the heavyweight division at 220 pounds.

Ahead was Tyson. But never straight ahead. There were agonizing detours, court battles over rankings, disputes with promoter Don King--welcome to the club--before Norris, who recently celebrated his 34th birthday, got his fight with Tyson.

“I lost faith a couple of times,” he said. “It was difficult to keep training, knowing it may be in vain, knowing I might never get my big shot. I’ve grown to hate the corruption in boxing.

“But if a title shot never came along before I retired, I would have had a good career. This just makes the pot a little sweeter. If I could beat Mike Tyson, it would be huge. My career would just skyrocket.”

So just how does Norris hope to beat Tyson, whose 46-3 record includes 40 knockouts?

“I think Orlin is fighting at a ripe old age,” said Norris’ trainer, Abel Sanchez. “If Mike Tyson takes him lightly, he will be making a mistake. Orlin has the boxing ability to keep Tyson off, to jab, move and counter. Mike has only one way to move and that’s forward. I think Orlin will knock him out.”

Brave talk, bolstered by the talk that Tyson, at 33, is a shot fighter, but Norris isn’t buying it.

“A lot of people are telling me that Tyson has lost something,” Norris said. “But I can’t think like that. I have had to train as if he is the 18-year-old Mike Tyson.”

That he is not. After serving 3 1/2 years in prison for a rape conviction, Tyson returned to society claiming to be a rehabilitated man, embracing Islam, speaking of a new outlook on life.

But ever since the November night in 1996 when he fought Evander Holyfield, Tyson has been back on a downward spiral. He was TKO’d by Holyfield that night in the 11th round in one of the great upsets in boxing history.

Then came the infamous rematch in June 1997, when Tyson was disqualified after the third round for biting both of Holyfield’s ears.

Then came boxing exile after the Nevada State Athletic Commission took Tyson’s license away for 15 months.

Then came Francois Botha, whom Tyson fought last January. After trying to break Botha’s arm at the end of the first round, Tyson knocked him out in the fifth.

Then came 3 1/2 months in a Maryland jail for assaulting two men after a minor traffic accident.

And now comes Norris.

Earlier this month, Tyson told The Times that, if he felt he was not being protected by the referee, as he felt was the case in the second Holyfield fight, he would resort to the same ear-biting tactics. He has since backtracked on that, claiming he had made those remarks only to sell tickets.

“I don’t regret saying it,” Tyson said. “Everybody knows the adversity that I experienced going through that whole ordeal. They know I was just blowing a lot of hot air. I don’t regret anything I’ve ever said.”

Tonight’s fight hasn’t been boffo at the box office. More than 6,000 tickets are available in the 14,200-seat Grand Garden Arena.

Norris may be convinced he can win, but apparently he hasn’t convinced too many others.

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Also on tonight’s card, Roberto Garcia of Oxnard (32-0, 24 knockouts) will defend his International Boxing Federation junior-lightweight title against Diego Corrales of San Diego (28-0, 23 knockouts).

And in a 10-round bout, heavyweight David Tua (33-1, 28 knockouts), the IBF’s No. 1 contender, faces Shane Sutcliffe of Canada (21-8-1, 12 knockouts).

The Facts

* What: Mike Tyson vs. Orlin Norris

* When: Card begins 8 p.m. tonight

* Where: MGM Grand, Las Vegas

* TV: Showtime

TALE OF THE TAPE

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TYSON NORRIS 33 Age 34 223 Weight 218 5-11 1/2 Height 5-10 78 Reach 71 42 1/2 Chest (normal) 43 44 Chest (expanded) 45 17 Biceps 17 1/2 14 Forearm 14 34 Waist 34 26 1/2 Thigh 26 17 Calf 18 1/2 20 Neck 19 8 Wrist 10 12 Fist 12 1/2

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