Some bettors also feel the Tyson bite

Sal DeFilippo

Monday, June 30, 1997 | 4:20 a.m.

WITH all due respect to Evander Holyfield, I'm sure there are many sports bettors who would love to give an earful to Mike Tyson.

It's hard to guess why Tyson twice bit Holyfield, leading to a disqualification after the third round, in Saturday's World Boxing Association heavyweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden. But he did, causing mayhem in the ring and confusion for anyone watching, especially if they had a vested monetary interest.

Holyfield clearly and rightfully was determined the winner for the second time as underdog to Tyson, although the price (+160 at most books) wasn't nearly as generous as it was when they first met last Nov. 9.

But suppose you had a proposition wager where you bet on a fighter to win in a particular round?

"Holyfield is declared the winner in the third round, whether by knockout, technical knockout or disqualification," said Jay Rood, shift supervisor at the MGM Grand sports book. "The disqualification is normally not even a consideration, but it's something that unfortunately happens now and then. Most people don't anticipate that kind of result."

Obviously, Tyson backers weren't expecting the eerie (pun intended) circumstances, but that's one of the chances you take when you step up to the window.

"That's the risk you take when you bet on anything," Rood said. "If you bet on a horse race and the jockey falls off, are you going to get mad at the jockey?"

Despite the bettors who backed Holyfield and benefited from the disqualification, another layer of tarnish covers the sport and bettors may be skeptical to wager on future bouts.

"It's hard to say for sure, but the perception of the public probably is still out right now," Rood said.

Tyson has been temporarily suspended, his $30 million purse held. His fate will be discussed at an emergency meeting of the Nevada State Athletic Commission Tuesday at City Hall.

Provided he returns to the ring, it will be curious to see if books take action, and if bettors are willing to back Tyson again.

"As far as booking it goes, we'll probably put it up with small limits on it," said Kelly Downey, sports book supervisor at Imperial Palace. "We won't take a chance to put ourselves in a position to lose a lot. If he comes in against a stiff, people will back him, but I don't see any of the support coming in big fights now after what happened."

Downey said the Imperial Palace received action on both sides, Tyson closing at --200 with Holyfield returning +160.

"The bad thing about a fight like this is that bettors come in wanting their money back afterward," Downey said.

"Too many crazy things happen in boxing. Something like this is inexcusable and it leaves people saying, 'How can that happen?' The poor MGM tries to create something big like this for the town, but that's boxing ... I can't believe people paid $5,000 a ticket for something like that."

SAL DEFILIPPO is the news editor of the Las Vegas SUN. His sports betting column appears Mondays. He can be reached on the Internet at sal@lasvegassun.com