"I want to fight 3 times in 2004"
December 23rd 2003
Mike Tyson has stated publicly this week he will be returning to the ring next year and hopes for at least 3 fights, although non are likely to be world title shots, but rather would build up to a final title shot provided he wins.
Tyson, who lately had been dodging questions about his possible retirement from boxing, made the revelations on ESPN Radio 1050 in New York City. He was a guest on "Wally and The Keeg," a show hosted by former New York Post columnists Wally Matthews and Tom Keegan.
"I'm going to take my time," Tyson said. "I think I'm going to fight three fights. I think I'm going to fight Baby Joe Mesi. I think I'm going to fight one fight before Baby Joe Mesi and then fight someone else (after Mesi).
"I'm going to fight three fights and hopefully get a (title) shot."
Mesi's camp openly has discussed its desire to stage a late summer event in Ralph Wilson Stadium. The stadium would be scaled down to about 35,000 seats. Tyson is one of only two or three opponents who could draw such a crowd.
Would Tyson like to fight in Mesi's backyard?
"Yeah, no doubt about it," Tyson said.
Tyson hasn't fought since Feb. 22, when he obliterated Clifford Etienne,Mesi is 28-0 with 25 KOs.
The legendry former undisputed heavyweight champ told reporters in Madison Square Garden on Dec. 6 - after Mesi barely defeated Monte Barrett - that he didn't know if he still had the desire to compete.
Tyson changed his mind following Saturday's clinchfest between John Ruiz and Hasim Rahman in Atlantic City, N.J.
"I don't like talking about fighters anymore, but I'm feeling confident I can beat both of those guys," Tyson said of Ruiz and Rahman
Ruiz won a decision to become the World Boxing Association interim champion. Ruiz will be granted the title if champ Roy Jones Jr. chooses to move back to the light heavyweight division.
Tyson said he eventually would like to fight Jones.
"I realized I don't have to fight the world champion the first fight back," Tyson said. "But I can work out periodically and gradually and build up to that level, have a minor league-type effort and build up if everything goes well."
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Also this week, Mike Tyson and his legal team requested that an assalt case brought against the fighter, over a brawl at a hotel earlier in the year be thrown out, but the judge ordered Tyson to stand trial beginning on January 20. Defense lawyers argued that Tyson acted in self-defense after two men challenged him to a fight in the early morning hours of June 21 outside a Brooklyn hotel.
The two men told Tyson they had guns, but that didn't stop the former heavyweight champion from beating up both of them.
Tyson, who was not present in court Friday, has pleaded innocent to charges of misdemeanor assault, harassment and disorderly conduct. If convicted, he faces up to a year in prison. It is not widely thought that this however would be the outcome, as the men are shown to have clearly harrassed the former fighter before he acted.
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Tyson sacks his managment team!
December 13th 2003
Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson has sacked his managment team in a bid to kick start his career and organise his personal life.
Tyson has terminated his relationship with Shelly Finkel and will now work with New York firm Jacqueline Rowe and Associates.
"Any matters relating to my professional career, including any sporting and/or entertainment events, promotions and exhibitions will now be handled by Ms Jacqueline Rowe," said Tyson in a prepared statement.
Said Rowe: "Mr Tyson has begun taking positive measures to reorganise both his personal and professional business matters."
Mike is in training and has kept in good shape over recent monthes but has no official fight lined up. There has been room made for a fight in April, tho this would not be with Roy Jones. A Roy Jones fight would have to take place at the end of 2004. One of the big problems Tyson has had in getting a fight has been legal troubles, with Mike entlangled in a huge lawsuite against Don King.
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