Ex-Tyson trainer Rooney says Botha has a chance

Tim Graham

Friday, Jan. 15, 1999 | 10:48 a.m.

The trainer credited for leading Mike Tyson to his mantle as the "Baddest Man on the Planet" claims Frans Botha has a chance -- albeit a slim one.

Botha "should go right after Mike," Kevin Rooney said. "But if he walks into a left hook, it'll all be over."

Tyson and Botha will fight Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden. It will be Tyson's first fight since being suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for biting Evander Holyfield's ears 19 months ago in the same arena.

It will mark the second time Tyson has returned after a long layoff. His first comeback fight, after being released from prison for a rape conviction, was against Peter McNeeley in 1995.

Rooney finds significance in the fact both McNeeley and Botha are white.

"I feel that Botha, being from South Africa, he's gonna want to step up to the plate," Rooney said before explaining further. "The racial thing ... that's what I'm trying to say."

Rooney worked with Tyson under the tutelage of Cus D'Amato. After D'Amato's death, Rooney guided Tyson to a 35-0 record with 31 knockouts. Tyson became the undisputed heavyweight champion, beating the likes of Trevor Berbick, Larry Holmes and Michael Spinks.

But Tyson fired Rooney in 1988 because of disparaging remarks Rooney allegedly made about Tyson's divorce from Robin Givens and his court battles with then-manager Bill Cayton. Rooney has since won a $4.4 million lawsuit after a jury ruled Tyson broke a verbal lifetime contract.

Tyson is now trained by Tommy Brooks, who handles Pernell Whitaker and was in Evander Holyfield's corner for Tyson's last two defeats.

"Tommy Brooks is a good trainer," Rooney said. "But he knows nothing about how to train a Cus D'Amato fighter."

Rooney was asked what difference he could make with Tyson.

"He'd be a better fighter," Rooney replied.

Rooney is in Las Vegas with one of his pupils, heavyweight Alex Stewart, who will fight on the undercard. Stewart (43-8, 40 knockouts) will fight prospect Mount Whitaker (17-0, 15).

* EASY TICKET: A source at the MGM claimed that, as of Thursday morning, fewer than 5,000 tickets had been sold for the fight.

Ticket sales have been so dismal that the hotel, according to the source, offered a special deal to its employees, allowing them to purchase as many as four tickets at $16 apiece.

And the deal will bypass the cheap seats, which were sold out long ago at $200. MGM employees and their friends could show up at the Grand Garden and find themselves sitting next to someone who paid as many as four figures.

According to TicketMaster, seats are available in each of the other five price categories, including the most expensive at $1,200.

* RAKE IT IN: Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Marc Ratner announced Tyson's purse will be $10 million, while Botha's will be $1.85 million. Those figures do not include pay-per-view percentages.

* JABS & STIFF-ARMS: Mike Tyson's head of security, James Anderson, is the father of Atlanta Falcons running back Jamal Anderson. The Falcons play the Minnesota Vikings Sunday for the NFC Championship.

Jamal Anderson, who rushed for 1,846 yards and 14 touchdowns this year, claims he learned how to handle big-time pressure by watching his father, who also has worked for Sugar Ray Leonard and Magic Johnson.

"I got to see the media scrutiny and the high level of performance they expected of themselves," Jamal Anderson said. "I could say I went to the University of Entertainment 101 because I know first-hand how all these things have taken place before me."

His dad probably taught him how to deliver a pretty mean stiff-arm, too.

* QUICK HITS: Tyson weighed in Thursday at 223 pounds, his heaviest weight ever. His previous high was 222 in his first loss to Holyfield. Botha weighed in at 233 pounds. ... The MGM betting lines have not changed since they opened. Tyson is minus 700. Botha is plus 500. ... Pari-mutuel wagering on the fight is being offered at all Mega$ports locations.