Tyson: Boxing judge needs to apologize
Boxing referee C.J. Ross should apologize to Floyd Mayweather Jr. for her controversial scorecard and the U.S. government should oversee boxing, according to Mike Tyson.
In an interview with the Review-Journal, the former heavyweight world champion said Ross only “confronted half the issue” when she took an indefinite leave this week.
“Write this down: She psychologically scarred that man,” said Tyson in a telephone interview from New York.
Ross set off a firestorm after scoring the Mayweather-Saul “Canelo” Alvarez match a 114-114 draw. Her fellow judges scored it as a Mayweather rout: Craig Metcalfe had it 117-111 and Dave Moretti 116-112.
“They need to have a government body govern boxing,” said Tyson, who missed the fight due to a trip to China.
His six-part documentary, “Being: Mike Tyson,” premiers Sunday after “NFL on Fox,” between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. It continues on Tuesdays at 10:30 p.m. on Fox Sports 1 for the next five weeks.
The rest of Tyson’s Q-and-A interview with the R-J can be viewed at NormClarke.com.
In it, he blames his recent relapse on his inability to deal with being “overwhelmed with love,” after years of being scorned.
Tyson said his return to his crime-infested childhood neighborhood in Brooklyn left him feeling “sucker punched.”
DIALED IN
Las Vegas hosts one of the biggest radio events this weekend when the iHeart Radio Music Festival returns to the MGM Grand Garden for the third year in a row.
About 150 Clear Channel stations will be broadcasting the action and interviews live. Elton John, Katy Perry, Queen and Chris Brown are performing tonight. Miley Cyrus is appearing at the Village, the outdoor venue across from the Luxor, on Saturday about 1 p.m.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
This is how Mayweather rolls: Towbin Motorcars got a 2 a.m. phone call Tuesday from Floyd Mayweather Jr., who was ready to deal and wheel. The dealership, naturally, accommodated him. After arriving with rap legend Lil Kim and pro boxer Adrien Broner, Mayweather bought a new all-white 2014 Bentley Flying Spur, which goes 200 mph and runs about $200,000. …
Las Vegas restaurant consultant Elizabeth Blau will conduct the search for the executive chef and general manager positions at the historic New York City landmark, the Rainbow Room. Located atop 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Rockefeller Center, the room opened during the Great Depression in 1934 and closed in 2009 when the economy crashed. The restaurant is scheduled to reopen in the fall of 2014.
SIGHTINGS
Hollywood royalty Justin Timberlake and his wife, Jessica Biel, dining with friends at Old Homestead (Caesars Palace) on Wednesday after attending the Las Vegas premiere of “Runner Runner.” Both wore tuxedos for the red carpet. Co-stars Ben Affleck and Gemma Atherton also attended. … Carlos Santana, with his wife, drummer Cindy Blackman, at Vintner Grill on Thursday. … The real Captain Morgan, making an appearance at Carnaval Court (Flamingo) on Thursday. Earlier, I ran into him at KTNV-TV, Ch. 13, where he was on “Morning Blend” for “Talk Like a Pirate Day.” We commiserated about the hardships we pirates face, with the exception of an occasional free glazed donut. Normally we suffer in silence, but the lad apparently had to get something off his chest. His biggest surprise, he said, was how many people “get handsy” during photo ops.
THE PUNCH LINE
“Miley Cyrus and her fiance have officially called off their engagement. So we are about to see how Miley Cyrus acts when she’s single. We’ve been getting the restrained Miley.” — Conan O’Brien
Norm Clarke’s column appears Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. Reach him at 702-383-0244 or normclarke@reviewjournal.com. Find more at normclarke.com. Follow @Norm_Clarke on Twitter. “Norm Clarke’s Vegas” airs Thursdays on “Morning Blend” on KTNV-TV, Ch. 13.
