Sunday, February 08, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Tyson camp looks into June bout on Showtime

By KEVIN IOLE
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson will likely return to boxing on June 5 in a fight to be telecast on Showtime, a network executive confirmed.

Showtime Championship Boxing executive producer Jay Larkin said Friday he has held talks with Tyson adviser Shelly Finkel about the former champion fighting on that date. No opponent has been picked, nor has a site been identified.

"(A Tyson fight) is entirely possible and we're in talks with his advisers," Larkin said by telephone from Atlantic City, N.J. "Who knows what tomorrow will bring, but we are in serious talks ... and we're working toward putting it together on that date."

Larkin said his goal is to keep the fight in the United States and said three states are being eyed as possible hosts. Tyson's last two fights were in Memphis, Tenn., against Lennox Lewis and Clifford Etienne.

In Tyson's last bout, he knocked out the lightly regarded Etienne in 49 seconds last Feb. 22 in a fight that was canceled and rescheduled in the final three days leading up to it.

Though Larkin says he wants Tyson to fight a credible opponent, he said, "He can't fight King Kong," given what will have been a nearly 16-month layoff. Larkin said Showtime needs to have a deal done by the end of the month in order to be able to move forward.

Former super welterweight champion Oscar De La Hoya said last week he plans to fight on HBO Pay-Per-View on June 5, though he didn't identify an opponent.

However, because Showtime is committed to showing a fight on the first Saturday of each month, Larkin said it will go forward with the Tyson fight regardless of what HBO decides.