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Friday, September 17, 1999
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
Tyson: `I have no one to blame but myself'
Ex-champion Mike Tyson, who will fight Orlin Norris on Oct. 23, takes responsibility for his troubles in the past.
By Royce Feour
Review-Journal
Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson was generally mellow and philosophical at a news conference Thursday to announce his fight against Orlin Norris on Oct. 23 at the MGM Grand Garden.
Tyson, 33, was more relaxed and answered more questions than usual.
The fight is scheduled for 12 rounds because it is for a minor title.
The Norris bout will be Tyson's first since he was released from a Maryland jail on May 24 after serving 3 1/2 months for assaulting two motorists following a minor traffic accident.
Tyson noted how much time he has been away from boxing in recent years.
He spent three years in prison for raping a beauty contestant in Indianapolis and was out of boxing for four years, from July 1991 until August 1995.
Tyson also missed 1 1/2 years when his license was revoked by the Nevada Athletic Commission after he was disqualified for biting Evander Holyfield on both ears in June 1997. Tyson's revocation was lifted last year.
Tyson's fifth-round knockout of Frans Botha on Jan. 16 at the MGM is Tyson's only fight in more than two years.
"That's a lot of inactivity," Tyson said. "I'll still win the title again."
But Tyson was philosophical about his past troubles, which caused him to lose millions of dollars in purses.
"Listen, man," Tyson said, "I have no one to blame but myself. Whoever created the words 'couldda, shouldda' ... there shouldn't be racism, dysfunctional alcoholics that are reporters, a lot of things."
Tyson seemed to have a fatalistic approach to prison terms.
"It is politically correct to put me in jail," he said.
Otherwise, Tyson said, "You would have a judicial malfunction in the courts."
Tyson said he weighed 280 pounds, almost 60 over his fighting weight, when he was released from jail in Rockville, Md.
Tyson's first fight after being released kept being pushed back from August, until Oct. 23 was finally confirmed.
"I was trying to lose weight," he said.
Tyson said he has lost about 45 pounds in training, first in Phoenix, and now in Las Vegas since Sept. 6.
"If I wasn't too vain about fighting at 235 pounds, I would fight now," he said. "I am in pretty good shape right now. Surprisingly, I am in better shape than I was for Botha. By fight time I will be all right."
Tyson said he didn't expect Norris to be "a walk in the park."
"I'm just working step-by-step to get in shape," he said.
Tyson said his weight came off in about 2 1/2 months after he started training.
"I lose weight pretty quick," he said. "I gain weight quickly, too."
The fight, promoted by America Presents, will be televised on the Showtime cable network rather than pay-per-view television, as most of Tyson's fights have been.
Shelly Finkel, Tyson's adviser, said Tyson could fight again in December or January, depending on how the Oct. 23 fight turns out.
Purses were not announced, but Tyson is expected to receive $7 million to $10 million, while Norris, of Lubbock, Texas, will be paid about $800,000.
Norris, 33, is a former World Boxing Association cruiserweight champion. He is 50-5 in a pro career dating to 1986.
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Printable version of this story
Mike Tyson appears at a news conference Thursday at the MGM Grand Garden. Tyson has fought only once in more than two years, knocking out Frans Botha on Jan. 16 at the MGM.
Photo by John Gurzinski.
Mike Tyson vowed Thursday to regain the heavyweight title belt.
Photo by John Gurzinski.
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