COLUMN: Royce Feour

     Many people around the country, in and out of boxing, think the revocation of Mike Tyson's license by the Nevada Athletic Commission is, effectively, no more than a one-year suspension.
      Despite what Tyson's high-profile attorney, Oscar Goodman, and many others think, my impression is Tyson will not get his license back next year.
      Many think because Tyson has the right to reapply for a license next year, it's a given the commission will reinstate him.
      It should be noted that Tyson coming back in one year isn't something the commission stipulated or conceded. The commission revoked Tyson's license. By law, a licensee whose license is revoked has the right to come back in one year and reapply for a license.
      On ABC's popular "Nightline" program Wednesday night, host Forrest Sawyer inferred Tyson would be relicensed for economic reasons.
      "You know how many people in Las Vegas want him (Tyson) to come back?" Sawyer asked. "You know how much money they can make from this? Why don't you believe that when he comes in a year and he says, 'Honest, I have been a good guy. I'm sorry,' they're going to say, 'Sure, get on back in the ring,' and Evander Holyfield's going to fight him?"
      Mike Boorman, the glib spokesman for Main Events Inc., said Wednesday's decision was an easy one for the commission because they had to do it.
      "My gut says they will give it to him a year from now," Boorman said Thursday. "Mike will come forward with doctors' notes, 400 attorneys, and they will cave in and give it to him. They would frame it for him."
      Not so fast guys.
      Officially, the revocation is for life, unless the commission decides to lift it. Tyson getting a license is anything but automatic.
      Deputy attorney general Joe Rolston, fresh from an appearance on "Larry King Live," put the situation in perspective.
      "The way it is set up right now, the commission has the absolute discretion to deny Mike Tyson year after year until the end of time if they so desire," Rolston said.
      Legally, that is the case. Not that I believe Tyson's revocation will be for life, nor do I think it should be. But I do think it will be for two years. Beyond that, I wouldn't speculate.
      One year can be an eternity in boxing, so anything can happen. But at this point, Tyson is an underdog to get his license back next year.
      At least four members of the five-member commission will be back next year. And it's possible all five members will return. Commissioner Nat Carasali's term expires in October, but he might be reappointed by Gov. Bob Miller.
      Commission chairman Dr. Elias Ghanem of Las Vegas and commissioners Jim Nave and Lorenzo Fertitta of Las Vegas and Luther Mack of Reno presumably will be back next year.
      After Wednesday's hearing, none of the commissioners would say they would not vote to grant Tyson a license next year. Instead, they were careful not to prejudge Tyson. That's the way it should be.
      However, Mack had some significant things to say about what Tyson needs to do in the next year.
      "Maybe he needs to look at his camp," Mack said.
      Mack said he wanted to see Tyson at the hearing. But Tyson didn't attend.
      "I don't know about Don King," Mack said. "Mike Tyson needs positive mentorship. ... Someone who will do it not for money, but for heart."
      Mack also said Tyson co-manager John Horne should apologize to the commission.
      "I think John Horne made some derogatory statements in the ring," Mack said.
      There have been printed, but unconfirmed, reports that Horne and co-manager Rory Holloway are or will be out as Tyson's managerial team. Maybe so, maybe not. Both have been friends with Tyson since they were teen-agers, so they might not be out of the picture altogether.
      Goodman was confident after the hearing that Tyson would be relicensed next year, but that is what he is paid to say.
      Sorry to disappoint.
      The vote to revoke Tyson's license was 5-0. It's doubtful three, or more, commissioners will vote to reinstate Tyson after one year.
     
      Royce Feour's boxing column is published Friday. He can be reached by phone at 383-0354, by fax at 383-4676 or by e-mail at Royce_Feour@lvrj.com.