The NSAC ruling "put promoters on notice not to stage"
a Mike Tyson fight in another state or country, according to
Royce Feour of the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. NSAC
Commissioner Jim Nave said that the commission has a
regulation that "prevents promoters from dealing with
someone whose license has been suspended or revoked." That
applies to any promoter licensed in Nevada, including Don
King. King had no comments on the commission's actions (LAS
VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 7/10). Tyson could fight overseas
while he attempts to get his license back, but he is on
probation for a sexual offense until March '99 (N.Y. DAILY
NEWS, 7/10). USA Today's Jon Saraceno: "There will be a
fight somewhere. You'll find an island, they'll find some
banana republic ... they'll go to the North Pole if Don King
has to" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 7/9). CNN's Lou Dobbs:
"Donald Trump has offered to sponsor a match for Tyson
somewhere outside the United States" ("Moneyline," 7/9).
STILL A DRAW: ABC News' James Walker: "In Las Vegas,
they're already betting that Tyson will be back when he
reapplies for his license in a year. ... And Las Vegas and
Don King and pay-per-view will all be there to cash in"
("World News Tonight," ABC, 7/9). ABC's Jeff Greenfield:
"The revocation of Tyson's license sets up a public
relations dream -- the return, in a year or two, of the
prodigal son. In a pay-per-view event that could dwarf all
past events" ("Nightline," ABC, 7/9). In St. Louis, Bernie
Miklasz writes that "when Tyson eventually returns to the
ring he'll be more marketable than ever. His sinister image
will be converted into larger, record-setting profits" (ST.
LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 7/10). Boxing attorney Milton Chwasky:
"Tyson retains his mystique. He remains an enigma who
people will pay to see" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/10). Bob
Kravitz of the Rocky Mountain News: "A lot of people say
Mike Tyson should be banned for life. I can promise you the
vast majority of those people who feel he should be banned
for life, would pay $49.95 to watch him tomorrow. ... If
anything, that last fight increased his marketability" ("The
News With Brian Williams," 7/9). Dr. Ferdie Pacheco: "He's
a hell of a box office draw. And as long as that continues,
they will find people for him to box, and we will all be
sitting here in this box watching" ("CNN/SI," 7/9). In
Denver, Mike Littwin predicts Tyson-Holyfield III at the MGM
Grand in October '98: "There have been many big fights
before, but this will be the biggest fight not to have World
War as part of its title" (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 7/10).
SHOWTIME'S RESPONSE: Showtime Exec VP Mark Greenberg
said the network will honor its contract with Tyson: "We
still support Mike. You don't dump a person in a personal
crisis" (Stephen Battaglio, HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 7/10).
Greenberg: "Has Mike Tyson left the pay-per-view business
for a while? Yes. Maybe permanent? Certainly possible.
... I'm not sure the final chapter has been written on Mike
Tyson" (CNBC, 7/9). Showtime VP/Exec Producer Jay Larkin is
considering adding Tyson to Showtime's boxing broadcast
team: "I would give Tyson the opportunity to present himself
in a better light" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/10).
ON HIS OWN: Tyson's attorney, Oscar Goodman, on his
client's future: "We consider this to be the first day of
the rest of his life" ("Internight," MSNBC, 7/9). ESPN's Al
Bernstein: "It will be interesting to see over the next year
or so whether Tyson does keep a low profile. He has boxed
himself into a PR and marketing corner that he cannot
escape" ("SportsCenter," 7/9). In N.Y., Jack Newfield
writes the ban "may plunge Tyson even deeper into the thug
nation night world of violence, gangs, criminality and self-
destruction" (N.Y. POST, 7/10). USA Today's Jon Saraceno:
"The question is, what is he going to be able to find that's
going to keep him out of trouble?" ("SportsCenter," 7/9).
WHERE ARE ALL THE KING'S MEN? SI's "Scorecard" writes
that Don King's power has been "seriously weakened" by the
Tyson ban, and with his "second-highest-profile client"
being Oliver McCall, "King has little to fall back on" (SI,
7/14). In N.Y., Wallace Matthews reports that MGM Grand
execs "have been conspicuous by their silence since June 28.
The hotel has a contract for one more Tyson fight and I
doubt they will exercise it. In fact, the hotel may sue
Tyson and King to get back" money it paid for the fight and
subsequently lost after it closed its table in the chaos of
that night (N.Y. POST, 7/10). Jim Gray, on King: "He will
just move on with his life, and I'm sure there will be a
major void without Mike Tyson for the year, but Don's a
loyal guy and he'll stick by Mike Tyson" ("LKL," CNN, 7/9).
