'I just snapped'

      A contrite Mike Tyson on Monday said he expects a serious penalty, but asked that the Nevada Athletic Commission not suspend him for life for his actions in the ring Saturday night against Evander Holyfield.
      Tyson said he expects to be penalized by the NAC for biting Holyfield on each ear and being disqualified after the third round by referee Mills Lane in their World Boxing Association heavyweight championship fight at the MGM Grand Garden.
      "I expect the Nevada State Athletic Commission to hand down a severe penalty, and I am here today to say I will not fight it. I only ask that I not be penalized for life for this mistake," Tyson said, reading from a prepared statement at a news conference at the MGM.
      Besides a suspension, Tyson could be fined a maximum of $3 million, 10 percent of his purse.
      Tyson has been temporarily suspended by the NAC and his purse is being held, pending a possible hearing.
      "I will instruct my managers and promoters to waive any time restrictions so the penalties can begin immediately, so that I can show the boxing fans of the world that I am willing to accept what I have coming to me," he said.
      The NAC will meet today at 10 a.m. at Las Vegas City Hall Council Chambers to vote on whether to file an administrative complaint against Tyson. If the five-member commission votes for it, Tyson would be entitled to 30 days written notice after the complaint is served before a disciplinary hearing takes place.
      Tyson could agree to waive the 30-day notice period.
      The commission also has a 9:15 a.m. disciplinary hearing today against Oliver McCall, who quit fighting and started crying in the ring in the fifth round of his fight against World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis on Feb. 7 at the Las Vegas Hilton.
      Tyson, who turned 31 Monday, apologized for "snapping in that ring."
      Tyson first bit Holyfield on the right ear, a wound that required 15 stitches, and shoved Holyfield from behind. Lane deducted one point from Tyson's score for the first bite and the shove.
      Tyson then spit out his mouthpiece again and bit Holyfield again, this time on the left ear. Lane disqualified Tyson after the round.
      "I apologize to the world, to my family and to the Nevada State Athletic Commission that has always treated me fairly, to judge Patricia Gifford, who knows that I am proud to be living up to the terms of my probation," Tyson said Monday.
      Gifford was the judge who presided over Tyson's trial for rape in Indianapolis. He was convicted of rape and served a three-year term in an Indiana prison, getting released March 25, 1995.
      Tyson, wearing a tan sports jacket, read his statement in an unemotional tone. The statement lasted four minutes, 16 seconds.
      Tyson took no questions and left the podium immediately.
      Tyson, or his camp, called the session, which started 47 minutes late.
      Tyson apologized to Holyfield, who left Las Vegas late Sunday morning for his home in Atlanta.
      "Evander, I am sorry," Tyson said. "You are a champion. And I respect that."
      Responding to Tyson, Holyfield told the Associated Press it was "a good gesture. ... I have no hatred. Things like that can happen but if you get paid that much money, they're not supposed to."
      Holyfield had 15 stitches in his right ear, according to Dr. Julio Garcia, a plastic surgeon who attended to Holyfield.
      "To those of you who say that I should never fight again, I can only say that I am just 31 years old in the prime of my career and I have made it this far because I had no other way," Tyson said.
      Tyson's right eye, which was cut by what Lane ruled an unintentional head butt in the second round, was puffy and discolored.
      "I cannot tell you why, exactly, I acted like I did other than to say that when the butting occurred I thought I might lose because of the severity of the cut above my eye," Tyson said. "I just snapped and I reacted and did what many athletes have done and paid the price for."
      Tyson compared his actions to incidents in basketball "with fist fights on the floor" and to baseball "with riots on the field and even spitting in the face of an official."
      Tyson appeared alone at a podium. A spokesman for Don King said King and co-managers John Horne and Rory Holloway waited in a back room during the news conference.
      "For an athlete in the heat of battle to suddenly lose it is not new," Tyson said. "But it's not right. And for me it doesn't change anything. I was wrong."
      Tyson also indicated he is seeking psychiatric help.
      "I have also reached out since Saturday to the medical professionals for help, to tell me why I did what I did, and I will have that help," he said.
      Tyson's disqualification was his second straight loss to Holyfield, who stopped Tyson in the 11th round Nov. 9 to win the WBA title from Tyson at the MGM.
      Dr. Elias Ghanem, chairman of the NAC, said he was impressed by Tyson's apology.
      "I really think it was hard for Mike to do a conference like this," Ghanem said. "At least he got away from the Team Tyson idea and the hoopla that happened after the fight, and I think he came out like a man, really.
      "He said, 'I messed up, I made a mistake. I will take full blame for it.' It is one of those things he realizes he needs help and I really like that portion -- `I need some psychological help.'
      "I think it was a black eye for boxing (Saturday night). I also liked very much the point he apologized to Holyfield. The fact is that Holyfield is still the champion and he admitted that."