Tyson reportedly considering appearance in wrestling event

Wednesday, Dec. 31, 1997 | 11:13 a.m.

It was once thought that Mike Tyson would follow in the footsteps of fellow former world heavyweight champs Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali as a boxing legend.

Now, it is possible, he might also follow their path through the folly of professional wrestling.

Tyson, banned from boxing for biting off pieces of Evander Holyfield's ears, could be back in the ring next year as a referee in "Wrestlemania XIV."

The World Wrestling Federation said Tuesday it is negotiating with promoter Don King for Tyson to appear in the March 29 pro wrestling event in Boston.

Longtime Las Vegan Louis and Ali also dabbled with pro wrestling -- career moves that not only tarnished their reputations as respected pugilists but also in Louis' case may have shortened his life.

Louis retired from boxing at age 37 after holding the world title longer than any other heavyweight. To help pay off a huge tax debt, he went into professional wrestling, first as a wrestler and later as a referee.

"It's an honorable living and it beats stealing," Louis often told reporters who asked why he would engage in the carnival-type exhibition after such a successful career in a legitimate sport.

In the mid-1950s, a 360-pound wrestler, Cowboy Rocky Lee, jumped on Louis' chest, which resulted in a heart injury that would plague his later years. Louis suffered an angina attack in 1977, followed by a stroke later that year, which confined him to a wheelchair the rest of his life.

He underwent heart surgery in December 1980 and died April 12, 1981, in Las Vegas at age 66.

Ali's venture into wrestling was short-lived. On June 25, 1976, he fought professional wrestler Antonio Inoki, in Tokyo.

Ali boxed, while Inoki wrestled. However, the match consisted mostly of the two swiping at each other from safe distances -- Inoki fearful of Ali's KO punching power, Ali afraid of getting caught in Inoki's grip. It ended in a 15-round draw.

Ali lost his second-to-final fight in Las Vegas, suffering an 11th round technical knockout at the hands of then-world champion Larry Holmes at Caesars Palace on Oct. 2, 1980. Ali's career ended following a 15-round decision loss to Trevor Berbick the next year.

Today, Ali suffers from Parkinson's Disease, attributed to the blows he took in the ring over the years.

While the WWF would not disclose their plans for Tyson, the New York Daily News reported today that the former heavyweight champion is being sought as a referee.

However, such arrangements usually wind up in situations where the guest referee is forced to knock out a slew of wrestlers who run into the ring to brawl after the match. Inevitably, the boxer/referee challenges the toughest thug to a no-holds-barred, winner-take-all death match on the next big card.

"Mike wants to box again and Don wants to make money," Tyson associate Steve Lott told the newspaper. "I can't believe he (King) would jeopardize Mike's chances of getting his boxing license back."

The Nevada State Athletic Commission revoked Tyson's license and fined him $3 million for biting Holyfield's ears during their WBA title fight in Las Vegas on June 28. Tyson can apply for reinstatement in July.

"Any attempt by Mr. Tyson to circumvent the spirit and intention of the commission would not be viewed favorably," said Donald Haight, legal adviser for the athletic commission.

Tyson was scheduled to referee a wrestling match in 1990, but was replaced by Buster Douglas after he won the heavyweight title from Tyson.