GOOD COMMON SENSE

(INSIDE BOXING) The words spoken by "Iron Mike" Tyson on Monday morning were that he had given the go-ahead to manager Shelley Finkel to begin negotiations for a match with the undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World, Lennox Lewis.

There was no doubt Tyson would give the okay, since the Lewis camp has been reportedly saying that they were actively pursuing Tyson to no avail. The word was that Tyson manager Finkel was seemingly uninterested in doing any serious negotiating.

Once Tyson learned that the Lewis camp was "calling him out" loud and often, he had a little chat with Finkel. Although Finkel claims he called Tyson, rest assured it was the other way around.

The 35th birthday of Tyson is June 30th and manager Finkel says "Iron Mike" would love nothing better than to celebrate a victory over Lewis as a birthday gift. If the Lewis camp is serious about making the fight, Finkel says nothing on his end is keeping it from happening.

Lennox Lewis is under contract to HBO. Mike Tyson is under contract to SHOWTIME. These two cable giants will not concede one inch in allowing their fighter to enter into any agreement…or will they?

SHOWTIME executive producer Jay Larkin reminds us that his network stepped aside in allowing Evander Holyfield to fight Lewis not once, but twice, and would never step aside again.

Larkin said that his door is always open to HBO and he would listen if they came calling. "We’ve drawn a line in the sand with a great big fat stick and without a significant reason (money) for us to make it happen it won’t", said Larkin.

HBO spokesman Ray Stallone made the same posturing statements concerning the potential mega-buck fight. "We’ll take a phone call anytime day or night to discuss the fight with SHOWTIME. Our door is always open", he said.

The two TV networks would surely come to some agreement with the prospect of a possible $100 million pay-per-view extravaganza staring them straight in their faces…or would they?

Shelley Finkel maintains his fighter, Mike Tyson, is the biggest attraction in the heavyweight division and therefore deserves the larger share of the purse. We are talking some $40 million dollars for Tyson and $20 million for Lewis.

Lennox Lewis is the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and has been an exemplary "poster boy" for boxing. No rape charges. No assault charges. No driving without a license charges. The Lewis camp would never concede that they need Tyson and not vice-versa…or would they?

"Iron Mike" is currently under suspension for testing positive for marijuana following his October bout against Andrew Golota. Just before that fight he had said he was probably 3 or 4 fights away from being in the shape he needed to be in to do battle with Lewis.

It has become one of the worst kept secrets regarding the medications Tyson has been prescribed in an attempt to calm him. This is probably why there have been no words from Tyson regarding fighting anyone. He is one pill away from being what is commonly referred to as "heavily sedated".

What boxing commission would sanction such a fight?

The Las Vegas commission would be hard pressed to sanction the bout, considering their stand following the Holyfield ear-biting incident.

Any other commission would most assuredly ask for both medical and psychological testing. There would then be a public hearing to determine whether Tyson is fit to enter the ring.

Lennox Lewis’ manager, Adrian Ogun seems to be playing his cards close to the vest. He knows all the obstacles preventing this fight from happening. Yet he has now put all the pressure on Shelley Finkel, SHOWTIME and HBO. Good move.

Lennox Lewis will be able to retire as the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world with the asterisk removed. The asterisk had to be there because he would have never fought the only viable opponent out there for him in Mike Tyson. But in no way can it be held against him should Tyson be declared psychologically unfit to fight.

$100 million dollars is enough money that HBO, SHOWTIME and even some really careless boxing commission may find a reason to say, "Let’s get it on!"

But when given the opportunity to speak, we’ve seen it time and time again, Mike Tyson cannot be controlled. He is, at this point, his own worst enemy.

He is truly frightening…and dangerous!

Good common sense tells us that in no way should this fight be considered boxing entertainment. But good common sense never had the figure of $100 million dollars as its’ adversary.

Boy Wonder

02/13/01