MGM to host big fight

Dean Juipe

Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2002 | 10:37 a.m.

In racing parlance, this one went to the wire.

With an air of secrecy existing until the actual opening of today's press conference in New York City, it was announced that Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson would fight April 6 at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.

The photo finish was brought on by a number of factors, including Tyson's status with the district attorney in Clark County.

Rival cable networks HBO and Showtime will share the initial broadcasting rights.

Lewis, 39-2-1, will risk his World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation titles.

Tyson, 49-3, will attempt to become a champion for a third time.

Betting odds already posted have Lewis at a minus 190 and Tyson at a plus 150.

Each man is said to be earning $20 million for a fight that backers believe will become the most-watched in boxing history.

Tickets, however, cannot go on sale until Tyson is formally licensed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Last licensed here in 1999, Tyson has been placed on the commission's Jan. 29 agenda.

"We're in receipt of a letter asking us to start the licensing process," said NSAC executive director Marc Ratner. "Once they've applied, the process goes forward."

Shrouding that process is a still-unresolved investigation into a sexual-assault allegation brought against Tyson in September and being handled by the Clark County District Attorney's office. The complaint alleges Tyson, a convicted felon, raped a woman at his Las Vegas residence.

A majority vote of the five-person NSAC would determine Tyson's licensing.

Prompted by an edict by the WBC to finalize the fight no later than today or have it go to purse bid, organizers put the finishing touches on the deal and the MGM outlasted fellow suitors Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas and Madison Square Garden in New York for the right to host the attraction.

"I'm personally very territorial when it comes to boxing," Ratner said of the fight landing in Las Vegas. "We're always pleased to get a fight of this magnitude."

HBO and Showtime came to a rare agreement in which the network whose fighter wins -- and HBO is affiliated with Lewis, while Showtime has Tyson -- will retain the rebroadcast rights while paying the network of the losing fighter $3 million.