The NJ State Athletic Control Board (NJSACB) received
an application from MIKE TYSON for a NJ boxing license,
according to Randy Diamond of the Bergen RECORD. A hearing
has been scheduled for July 29 to discuss the matter. Tyson
adviser SHELLY FINKEL said that if granted the license,
Tyson "likely would return with a bout in Atlantic City late
this year." Tyson had his NV license revoked after his June
'97 fight with Evander Holyfield in Las Vegas, when he was
DQ'd for biting Holyfield's ears. He was eligible to
reapply for his NV license on July 9, but Finkel said that
Tyson will "only" apply in NJ for now. Finkel "would not
say" why Tyson was not reapplying in NV. NV state officials
"expect New Jersey to honor their state's revocation of
Tyson's license." Diamond wrote that federal law does not
prevent NJ from licensing Tyson, as the law "requires one
state's suspension to be honored by other states but says
nothing about a revocation." Tyson has not fought in NJ
since '90 (Randy Diamond, Bergen RECORD, 7/18).
NOW HEAR THIS: NJSACB spokesperson Rhonda Utley-Herring
said that while applications do not usually require a
hearing, the board felt that Tyson's case warranted one.
Utley-Herring: "We want the public to have confidence in the
process. This is an important decision." Tyson's presence
is "mandatory" at the hearing. NJ-based attorney Anthony
Fusco will represent Tyson at the hearing (RECORD, 7/18).
The NJSACB will have 45 days to render a written decision on
Tyson's application (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 7/18).
TO REINSTATE, OR NOT TO...: In N.Y., Wallace Matthews
wrote that by applying in NJ instead of NV, Tyson is
"undermining the integrity" of the Association of Boxing
Commissions, which says "every state commission is supposed
to recognize" NV's ruling and not license Tyson until NV
lifts its revocation (N.Y. POST, 7/19). In Philadelphia,
Bernard Fernandez wrote that Tyson "could be given kid-glove
treatment by the [NJ] commission, which presumably is eager
to land the sort of big-money, high-visibility fights that
have become an endangered species in what this far has been
a barren year for boxing" (PHILA. DAILY NEWS, 7/18).
