Advertisement

Britain unlikely to allow Tyson to fight there again

 
Published Feb. 1, 2000|Updated Sept. 26, 2005

The pound sterling stops here. Not the buck: Mike Tyson apparently still will be able to earn dollars, U.S. dollars, Euro-dollars, French francs, Danish kroner, Dutch guilders.

But he may not be able to return to the scene of his triumphant return, where he stopped overmatched British champion Julius Francis in 243 seconds Saturday night. He said he wanted to fight again in Britain, but a letter is on the way to him from the Home Office telling him it is unlikely he will be allowed back.

According to The Times of London, the letter will tell Tyson he must make a written application explaining why a convicted rapist should be allowed back in the country. This must be submitted long before any proposed fight in London or Cardiff, Wales, can take place.

Tyson remains on the Home Office's "Suspect Index" because of his criminal record. According to The Times, one government source said Tyson would be "in for a rude awakening" if he attempts to return.

For Saturday's fight, the Home Secretary, Jack Straw, had made an exception to an immigration rule preventing felons who had served more than a year in prison from entering Britain. Straw cited the effect a ban would have had on Manchester, which probably earned $50-million with Tyson's stay.

However, Straw took some political heat. One women's leader said after the fight, "The government put money ahead of morality. That cannot be allowed to happen again."

English promoter Frank Warren, who earned more than $3-million from the fight, was hoping to bring Tyson back as early as May. The former champion's next fight, scheduled for March 25, is likely to wind up at the Meadowlands against Lou Savarese, although serious offers were made from Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Paris.