Tyson not so live on Larry King’s TV show

Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2002 | 10:35 a.m.

Mike Tyson decided to keep a low profile on the eve of his boxing license hearing in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

The embattled heavyweight boxer postponed a scheduled appearance on the "Larry King Live" show on CNN Monday shortly before he was to appear. King told viewers that Tyson's handlers did not want him to go on camera with the hearing imminent and that Tyson would appear on his show at a later date.

At today's hearing, Tyson was expected to explain his actions at a New York press conference last week designed to promote his proposed April 6 fight with champion Lennox Lewis at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Tyson also was expected to face questions from the commission regarding other incidents that have transpired since he was last licensed to fight in Nevada, in 1999.

Even if the commission revokes Tyson's license, as it did for 15 months after he bit Evander Holyfield on the ear in a 1997 fight here, it doesn't doesn't mean Tyson won't be fighting Lewis in the near future.

Because the commission is just deciding whether it wants to grant Tyson a license, the decision is not binding on other states that might want the fight.

archive