Don King "yesterday ridiculed HBO's proposed heavyweight
tournament, calling it a 'warmup' event to find an opponent for
champion Mike Tyson," who is under contract with Showtime. King:
"I think we all know that it's a joke. Mike Tyson is the
uncrowned champ, and everyone else is lining up for a chance to
fight him" (AP/N.Y. POST, 7/7). More from King: "As you know,
during the last two or three years when Mike Tyson was in jail, I
was out of the heavyweight division. Then, HBO was glorifying
all of the sanctioning organizations. And now that HBO doesn't
have any (champions) in the organizations, they are castigating
and vilifying all of the organizations. That, too, shall pass"
(W.H. Stickney, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/7).
EMPTY RING, NO BELL? In a statement released yesterday
afternoon, Evander Holyfield's promoter, Dan Duva, said the
reports of the HBO mega-tournament "were misleading." Duva:
"There had been some preliminary discussions months ago about a
heavyweight tournament. But those discussions went absolutely
nowhere" (Main Events Monitor). According to the HOUSTON
CHRONICLE's Stickney, Duva said: "No Main Events fighters are
going to take part in any heavyweight tournament. I think [HBO
Sports President] Seth Abraham may have been eating too many
strawberries and cream over there at Wimbledon. There's no truth
to any of it" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/7). Duva also represents
Michael Moorer and Lennox Lewis, two of the fighters mentioned by
HBO as possible participants (THE DAILY).
CURIOUS, GEORGE? George Foreman also says the HBO
tournament "is highly unlikely." Foreman: "I don't think
there's ever going to be one title again. Really, it's better
for boxing now. When you've go more than one champion there are
more opportunities out there for everybody" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE,
7/7).
NOT THROUGH, YET: Showtime exec Jay Larkin: "HBO is
putting all their forces together to see who is formidable enough
to fight Mike. We have no problem with HBO being a farm team for
Showtime" (Ron Borges, BOSTON GLOBE, 7/7).
NOW A WORD FROM THE SPONSOR: HBO Sports had no additional
comments this morning (THE DAILY).
IN OTHER BOXING NEWS: "They should threaten to put Mike
Tyson back in the joint for grand theft," according to Brian
Schmitz in today's ORLANDO SENTINEL. Schmitz reports that "pay-
per-view promoters are charging as much as $59.95" for Tyson's
August 19 fight against Peter McNeeley. Showtime will offer the
fight at $40 to $50 if it is ordered before August 17 (ORLANDO
SENTINEL, 7/7).
