Tyson gets licence for Lewis clash

13 April 2012

Mike Tyson has received a licence to box in Georgia, opening the way for his fight with world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis to go ahead in front of a crowd of 80,000 in the Georgia Dome arena in Atlanta on 8 June.

Tom Mishou, Georgia's boxing commissioner, revealed today that Tyson was granted a licence last Thursday and that a site fee - paid by a host venue for the privilege of staging a big bout - had been posted by the Georgia Dome. The amount paid: £9.28million.

Somehow, these developments remained secret for almost a week. Indeed, Gary Shaw, Lewis's promoter in the United States, was surprised when told the news.

"I know nothing about it but that doesn't mean the fight couldn't happen," Shaw admitted.

"The bottom line is that I haven't seen a concrete offer from Atlanta. There's been a lot of talk and I have fielded several calls from interested parties but I haven't seen anything in writing.

"I think if all of this were true I would have heard about it by now. But in our sport anything can happen and if an offer from Atlanta is given to me I would be happy to present it to Lennox."

There are several hurdles to be cleared before Britain's Lewis and Tyson face each other in a fight expected to generate up to £70m, making it the most lucrative in boxing history.

For a start, prosecutors in the state of Nevada, where Tyson was denied a licence to fight Lewis earlier this month, are considered pressing charges of rape against the former world champion, who has already served time in jail for one count of rape.

The projected fight date of 8 June also clashes with football's World Cup, which may affect interest from payper-view broadcasters outside the United States.

Significantly, however, it falls between the US team's first two fixtures against Portugal (5 June) and South Korea (10 June) and is a week before the US Open golf championship is held in New York. That could make the fight a viable proposition-for pay-per-view networks Showtime and HBO, who have agreed to work together in order to bankroll the Lewis-Tyson showdown.

It is also understood that Georgia is not one of the six approved states noted in the original fight contract.

A fortnight ago, the Nevada State Athletic Commission rejected Tyson's application for a boxing licence after considering the outrage caused by the 35-year-old American's biting attack on Lewis during their New York press conference to announce an original fight date of 6 April in Las Vegas.

The Association of Boxing Commissions in the United States subsequently called for other states to follow Nevada's lead.

Explaining his actions, Mishou said: "Shelly Finkel, Mr Tyson's manager, contacted my office. He asked if I would send him a licence application. I sent it to him, Mr Tyson filled it out, they sent me the required medicals, the money, and we issued the licence."

Audley: Williams makes me look good

MORE ABOUT

50's US Rock And Pop

Tyson gets licence for Lewis clash

Read More