Tyson looks like his old self

Tim Graham

Tuesday, Jan. 12, 1999 | 10:26 a.m.

Ex-champ appears to be in shape in workouts

Mike Tyson was being analyzed again. A bunch of men with furled brows observed his every move and marked them down in their notebooks.

But this wasn't one of those examinations Tyson had grown accustomed to in recent months. He wasn't lying on his back and talking to a psychiatrist. He wasn't sitting before a commission and getting grilled for testimony.

This time, finally, he was in the boxing ring.

Tyson worked out for the media on Monday at the MGM Grand. The 45-minute session offered the first public glimpse of what can be expected from the former undisputed heavyweight champion in his second comeback. He looked impressive.

Tyson will face Frans Botha in a 10-round bout Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden. It will be Tyson's first fight since he bit Evander Holyfield on the ears 19 months ago to draw a suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

After the workout Tyson informed the media he will fulfill his four-fight contract with promoter America Presents by the end of 1999 and then retire.

"I'm tired of people f- - - - - - - with me," he said. "Haven't I given you enough?"

Tyson arrived at the event media tent wearing a black T-shirt with "BE REAL" printed on the back, barely covering neon green bikini shorts.

With the sounds of rapper Jay-Z's CD "Hard Knock Life" thumping in the background, Tyson jumped rope for five minutes and stretched before throwing any punches. He did not spar or pound the heavy or speed bags. New trainer Tommy Brooks instead had Tyson fire away at the hand pads.

And fire away he did.

Tyson, 32, was surprisingly attentive to Brooks, who trained Holyfield in his two victories over Tyson. It appeared Tyson had done quite a bit of listening to Brooks since they were united four months ago.

On Monday they concentrated on defense, countering and head movement. Tyson actually looked more like the fighting machine who took the world by storm under the tutelage of Kevin Rooney and Cus D'Amato than the self caricature who was exposed by Holyfield.

"He is in great shape," Brooks said. "You could see that for yourself. He's getting back to the Mike Tyson of old.

"Frans Botha is in trouble."

The odds agree with Brooks. At the MGM sports book, Tyson (45-3, 39 knockouts) is minus 700, while Botha (39-1, 24) is plus 500.

"In the eight weeks Tommy and I have worked out I didn't take one day off," Tyson said, adding he couldn't remember the last time he was so dedicated.

"When I was fighting in Las Vegas I would train three days and then go to L.A. and party for a week. I thought 'I trained three days. There's was no f- - - - - - - way I can get beat.' "

Tyson may be taking his training more seriously, but that doesn't mean he is any more humble. In answering the media's questions, Tyson didn't act like someone who is on a two-fight losing streak, without a victory since 1996.

Tyson was asked what he knew about Botha.

"He's white," Tyson replied. "He can't beat me."

Not even the event's sluggish ticket sales could quell Tyson's bravado. Although the local pay-per-view blackout was lifted on Monday, the fight is an unlikely sellout, but Tyson still claimed "I could sell out Madison Square Garden masturbating."

"I'm champion even when I'm not champion," he continued. "Just look at the gate receipts."

Tyson, long boxing's biggest moneymaker, will earn around $20 million, not counting a percentage of the pay-per-view.