Tyson Escapes Punishment for Actions Against Norris

It was an unusual day for Mike Tyson. Everything went well. No incidents, no shocks, no bad behavior, no unexpected consequences.

The Nevada Athletic Commission, at a hearing Friday morning in Las Vegas, voted 4-0, with Commissioner Luther Mack absent, to release Tyson’s $10-million purse from his fight last Saturday against Orlin Norris and to take no disciplinary action against Tyson for his late blow that ended the fight.

The only cautionary note for Tyson, who was not present, was a warning by the commissioners that they will reexamine Tyson’s behavior should he seek to renew his license after it expires Dec. 31.

“I would suggest that you pack Mike Tyson’s bag and take his act on the road,” Commissioner Lorenzo Fertitta told Dan Goossen, Tyson’s promoter.

That was already in the works. Tyson was tentatively set to fight Shannon Briggs on Feb. 26 at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

That proposal was put on hold, along with Tyson’s purse, after the weird ending of last Saturday night’s fight at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Tyson, a heavy favorite against the lightly regarded Norris, hit Norris with a left hand after the bell had sounded ending the first round. Only seconds earlier, Tyson had been warned by referee Richard Steele about hitting on the break.

The late blow at the end of the round caused Norris to tumble to the canvas, his weight on his right knee. Norris wound up with a dislocated kneecap and a strained ligament, ending the fight. It was ruled a no contest.

Considering the unorthodox finish, and Tyson’s behavior in his previous two fights, the commission withheld his purse, pending review. Tyson had bitten both of Evander Holyfield’s ears in a 1997 fight and tried to break Francois Botha’s arm in a fight in January of this year.

But Friday, the commissioners, having watched a tape of Saturday’s fight, backed Steele’s ring ruling, agreeing that Tyson’s late blow was an accidental foul.

Because the Mike Tyson Foundation bought $500,000 worth of tickets and because an additional $700,000 went for repayment of debt, the amount Tyson actually received was $8.7 million. Expenses accounted for the other $100,000.

Mack had threatened to be harsher on Tyson in an interview earlier in the week, saying he might favor at least a letter of censure, if not more. But when the commission convened, Mack wasn’t on hand to push his argument, having gone to Atlanta.

And now what?

Tyson has several options. He could fight Norris again in December if Norris’ knee is sufficiently healed. Tyson could wait until February to fight Briggs. Or, based on the outcome of next month’s Holyfield-Lennox Lewis fight, Tyson might find himself in line for a bout with either the winner or loser of that match.

But on Friday, Goossen wasn’t ready to speculate.

“We are just enjoying the moment,” he said.