Yeah, Fat Chance That This Show Won’t Go On

One down, one to go.

With the confirmation earlier this week that Oscar De La Hoya and Fernando Vargas have agreed to fight May 4, the focus has shifted to the negotiations for a heavyweight title fight between champion Lennox Lewis and challenger Mike Tyson in Las Vegas on April 6.

The competing cable networks--HBO has the rights to Lewis, Showtime to Tyson--appear to have worked out their differences, removing the major obstacle.

Lewis and Tyson have moved from a 75-25 purse distribution to something much closer to an even split.

So what’s the hang-up?

What’s always the hang-up in a Tyson fight? Tyson, of course.

His latest problems involve:

* An investigation into sexual assault charges against the former two-time heavyweight champion over an incident that allegedly occurred in his Las Vegas home in September.

* His mysterious appearance in Cuba, and the legality of his trip there. Staying in a Havana hotel over the New Year’s holiday, Tyson became agitated when media representatives showed up. He lightly punched a cameraman in the head and threw small, glittering balls at reporters.

* The possibility that either or both of the above incidents would prompt the Nevada State Athletic Commission to deny him a license.

* A picture of Tyson in Cuba that showed his stomach hanging well over his belt. Tyson, who tends to get badly out of shape between fights, might have put on 30-40 pounds, according to some sources.

Of course, with Tyson there are always questions. He averages about one postponement per fight.

And even if and when a deal is struck, there will be rumors that the fight is off right through April 5. That’s standard with any Tyson promotion.

But before an agreement can be signed for a Las Vegas site, Tyson must reapply for a Nevada license. His lapsed two years ago. And Luther Mack, chairman of the five-man Nevada commission, promises his group won’t be blinded by the potential dollars that could flow into the state from such a match.

“This will not be automatic,” Mack said. “These incidents [in Cuba and at Tyson’s home] will certainly come up. These are serious allegations. I want to ask him why he was in Cuba and what took place. I want specific answers. Tell me exactly what happened. Don’t beat around the bush. We need to have the truth. There is no guarantee that he will get a license.”

Despite all that, and even though an aging Tyson appears to have little if any chance against Lewis, this figures to be a popular, lucrative match.

It will pit Lewis, the soft-spoken Englishman, against Tyson, the vulgar American. It will match the tall, skilled boxer, Lewis, against Tyson, the short, heavy puncher.

It won’t be Lewis against David Tua, but it won’t be much better. Tua, similar in build to Tyson, appeared to give up in the second round of his title match against Lewis in November 2000, and meekly lost a unanimous decision. The outmatched Tyson will also lose, perhaps by knockout, perhaps by decision, perhaps by disqualification if he does something stupid out of frustration over his failure to get to Lewis.

The hardest part for Lewis will be to get the deal made.

*

Speaking of Cuba

Also tough to make was tonight’s 130-pound unification match between World Boxing Assn. champion Joel Casamayor (26-0, 16 knockouts) of Cuba and World Boxing Organization titleholder Acelino Freitas (30-0, 29) of Brazil at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas’ Thomas & Mack Center.

The fight was postponed several times because of Freitas, which, Casamayor says, has generated in him a lot of pent-up fury.

“Most of my frustration is because of that,” Casamayor said. “If he is supposed to be a great champion, then why were there all these big excuses not to fight me? I just hope he doesn’t back out again, find another excuse not to show up.

“He talks a lot of trash, but when he gets in front of me, he does not even look me in the eye. That just shows me he is not the man he thinks he is.

“Freitas is afraid of me. When I go in there, I am like a Cuban warrior with a machete on my side and a knife in my mouth. This should be my easiest fight. I am going to put a hurt on him.”

Countered Freitas: “It took so long for this fight to be made because I had managerial problems and promotional problems. When a fighter

goes into the ring, he should go with a clear head. This is the perfect time for me to fight Casamayor.”

Freitas predicts this fight will be as big as the Super Bowl in Brazil. Casamayor says everybody in Cuba will be watching.

Even Tyson?