Tyson loses license, fined $3 million

      The Nevada Athletic Commission not only revoked Mike Tyson's boxing license for at least a year and fined him $3 million Wednesday, but it put promoters on notice not to stage a Tyson fight in another state or country.
      Commissioner Jim Nave said the commission has a regulation that prevents promoters from dealing with someone whose license has been suspended or revoked.
      "If they do, they would be subject to discipline," Nave said.
      That applies to any promoter licensed in Nevada, including Don King, who promotes Tyson. King had no comment on the commission's actions, said Mike Marley, a spokesman for Don King Productions.
      On advice of counsel, Tyson did not attend Wednesday's disciplinary hearing. "That was my decision, absolutely," Tyson's lead attorney Oscar Goodman said.
      Goodman said Tyson already apologized during his news conference June 30 at the MGM.
      "What can a man do?" Goodman asked.
      Tyson was not required to attend and reportedly caught an overnight flight Tuesday to New York. He made no statement regarding the penalties handed down during the Las Vegas City Hall hearing, a result of Tyson's disqualification for biting Evander Holyfield's ears in their June 28 World Boxing Association heavyweight championship fight at the MGM Grand Garden.
      More than 20 people spoke after the vote. A majority were pro-Tyson, and several accused the commission of racism in revoking Tyson's license.
      However, noted Los Angeles attorney Gloria Allred stood before the commission and essentially said, "I told you so."
      Allred, president of the Women's Equal Rights Legal Defense and Education Fund, a non-profit corporation, said she asked the commission in a letter dated March 16, 1996, not to allow Tyson to fight for a world championship because he is a rapist.
      She asked the commission Wednesday to come up with a policy to prevent sex offenders from fighting for world titles.
      "We request that the Nevada Athletic Commission change their rules to ban those convicted of rape, any act of felony violence and/or sex crimes from competing for any boxing crown," Allred said. "This is the best way to send the important message to the Mike Tysons of this world that women are not punching bags or objects for a sexual knockout."
      Allred said too many people were concerned about Tyson and not about those such as Desiree Washington, the Rhode Island woman Tyson was convicted of raping in an Indiana hotel room.
      "A lot of people are asking for the commission to be fair to Mike Tyson," Allred said. "I don't feel sorry for Mike Tyson, and I'm not worried about his future. I'm concerned about the victims of violence, women like Desiree Washington."
      Anne Golonka, president of the local chapter of the National Organization for Women, said Tyson fights have produced nothing but "murder and mayhem," since he returned in 1995.
      However, Muhammad Siddeeq, Tyson's spiritual adviser, said he believed Tyson would prove himself to be worthy of fighting again.
      "A lot is dependent upon his conduct and the way he carries himself," Siddeeq said. "That then raises the question, do I have faith that Mike Tyson can in a year live a responsible and honorable life and demonstrate in his life that he is qualified and capable of again being licensed? I do have that faith."
      The commission chose to revoke rather than suspend the license, enabling it to fine Tyson the maximum 10 percent of his $30 million purse. If he had been suspended, even for a lengthy period, the most he could have been fined was $250,000.
      Athletic commission executive director Marc Ratner said late Wednesday afternoon that a runner delivered a $3 million cashier's check from Tyson to pay the fine. The money will go to the state's general fund.
      Tyson also will be assessed the administrative cost of Wednesday's hearing.
      Tyson can reapply for his license in one year, but the commission will be under no obligation to grant it.
      "Unless there is an application from Mr. Tyson, and unless the commission changes its mind and votes to relicense him, then this revocation is for an indefinite period and for life," said Chief Deputy Attorney General Don Haight, who served as special counsel to the commission for the hearing.
      Deputy Attorney General Joe Rolston said the revocation order was being written Wednesday and will go into effect upon receipt by Tyson.
      Commission Chairman Dr. Elias Ghanem said the commission would consider a request from Tyson if he reapplies for a license.
      "We have an open mind," Ghanem said. "We'll see what happens in a year."
      Ghanem said he did not want to speculate on what would happen and prejudge the case.
      Ghanem said the fact Tyson did not attend the hearing had no effect on his vote.
      All five members of the commission said the state made a strong statement, which resulted in the most severe penalty available under the law.
      Goodman said Tyson would honor the suspension and reapply for his license in one year.
      "He doesn't want to fight the system," Goodman said.
      A newly enacted federal law encourages states to recognize another state's suspensions but does not mandate it in all cases, according to Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., the bill's co-sponsor.
      "In writing this new boxing law, we realized that the integrity of the sport of boxing would be jeopardized unless states recognize and uphold disciplinary actions against boxers issued in other states," Bryan said. "Every state in the United States and every country should recognize the action taken by Nevada today. Otherwise, there is no point in imposing discipline if boxers can just go elsewhere to fight."
      Ratner said he thought other state commissions would follow Nevada's revocation of Tyson's license.
      "In talking to a couple of other states this afternoon, I feel strongly all states will honor our revocations," Ratner said.
      Ratner is past president of the Association of Boxing Commissions. Under the ABC, states routinely honor other states' suspensions and revocations, though it is not mandatory.
      Tyson has been fighting at the MGM Grand Garden since his release from prison in 1995 and has one bout left on a six-fight contract with the hotel-casino.
      The MGM issued a one-sentence news release from J. Terrence Lanni, chairman and chief executive officer of MGM Grand Inc., on Wednesday's hearing:
      "An appropriate decision has been reached by the Nevada Athletic Commission, and we will comply with the ruling."
      Ghanem said the vote sent a message that the state would take strong action when necessary.
      "We will never tolerate anything like this," he said.
      Added Commissioner Lorenzo Fertitta, "I think the commission very clearly stated, 'If you want to box in Nevada, you have to follow the regulations.' This was a very serious matter. It will not be put up with in the state of Nevada."
      Commissioner Nave said the vote showed the athletic commission thought the sport of boxing was bigger than Tyson.
      "We always believed the sport is bigger," Nave said. "I thought the decision today was very severe, but I thought the decision was fair and proper. I felt that the commission was responsible to the sport of boxing, the city of Las Vegas and the state of Nevada."
     Review-Journal writers Kevin Iole and Monica Caruso contributed to this report.