THE Mike Tyson comeback will not happen, says former team member Steve Lott. Lott helped the late Bill Cayton and Jimmy Jacobs steer Tysonโs rise to become the youngest heavyweight titlist in history in the late 1980s. Though Tyson left for Don King, Lott, now 70 and CEO of the Boxing Hall of Fame Las Vegas, still regards Tyson as โclose to being the most entertaining fighter ever.โ
Lott isnโt against Tysonโs return, but sees several problems in putting together an exhibition bout.
โI donโt think this fight is possible,โ he told Boxing News. โI canโt see it happening.
โThe problem isnโt the fight. If the fight was tomorrow, I would back Mike against anyone. If he was fighting Lennox Lewis or George Foreman in Catskill tomorrow, I wouldnโt bet against him. But thereโs the pressure of training for two or three months and every day being asked about his rape conviction and biting Evander Holyfieldโs ear. Mike wouldnโt want that. Some fighters can deal with that pressure, but thatโs not Mike. There was an interview in Canada where Mike ended up calling the interviewer โa piece of shitโ for asking him about his conviction โ and he would get that every day for two or three months.โ
Lott says that if the Tyson comeback fight does happen, at least in the form of an exhibition, the Middle East seems the likeliest host.
โTo put together a heavyweight championship fight is hard,โ he said, โbut this is more difficult.
โThe idea of Mike fighting an exhibition is great because heโs very close to being the most entertaining fighter ever, but if itโs an exhibition, who decides what a hard punch is and whoโs going to put it together? Whoโs going to be on the undercard and whoโs going to oversee the money if itโs all going to charity? Boxing is a business and whoโs going to put on a show when the money goes to charity? Thatโs not something Don King or Bob Arum would do.
โWho would collect the cash? Who decides the charity? And where does the fight take place? The options appear to be Las Vegas or the Middle East.
โIf it does happen, I think it will be in the Middle East because they have the most money. The MGM Grand in Las Vegas could write a cheque for $10 million, but a prince there can write a cheque for $25 million and not give it a second thought.
โThey would love to be able to say: โWe had Mike Tyson hereโ and the princes would be able to say: โWe hung out with Mike Tyson.โ
โThey paid to have Anthony Joshua over there and Mike is 100 times more popular and more recognised.โ
Lott remembers a time when Tyson was one of the biggest stars in the world.
โThe Tokyo Dome was opening in 1988,โ he said. โIt had a capacity of 70,000 and they wanted to stage a show that told the world: โWe mean business, come here to watch the big stars.โ They had a choice between Michael Jackson, Madonna, Billy Joel, The Rolling Stones and Mike Tyson. The others were huge stars, but only people in Japan would take notice. They chose Mike because when Mike fought, the whole world stopped to watch.โ
Tyson knocked out Tony Tubbs in two rounds that night and according to Lott, he remains a huge draw.
โHeโs been out of boxing for years and he still draws more attention than most of the champions around today,โ he said. โPeople want to be entertained and when Mike fights, you never know whatโs going to happen. There are only a few fighters in history like that โ and Mike was one of them. He came out for round one like you had stolen something from him or the other description I liked was: โMike Tyson comes out for round one like heโs just scored a knockdown and heโs coming out to finish the fight.โ
โFighters these days arenโt that exciting and itโs not their fault. They are taught to jab and run, but in 2020, people want to see someone fight and say afterwards: โWhen can I see him again ?โ the way they did when they watched Mike.
โHe was huge and he still is. Iโm not saying Mike is the greatest fighter ever.
โIn Hollywood, Sylvester Stallone isnโt the greatest actor, but you canโt take your eyes off him and Mike is the same.โ
The Boxing News verdict on the Mike Tyson comeback.