ESPN’s Dan Rafael reports that Mike Tyson is scheduled to appear Thursday afternoon at a news conference at the Chevrolet Centre in Youngstown, Ohio, to announce “Mike Tyson’s World Tour.”
Tyson will be facing longtime sparring partner Corey “T-Rex” Sanders in as many as 12 four-round exhibitions. The fights will not count towards Tyson’s official record but other sanctioned fights will be put on the cards.
“I think the greatest thing Tyson can do for himself is to do this, go around the world and meet people who have never met a star or an icon like Tyson,” said Sterling McPherson, the promoter of these events. “And the prices will be right. Here in Youngstown, the top ticket is $200. That used to be the cheapest ticket for a Tyson fight. Here, you’re talking about tickets for $25. Where can you see Tyson in the ring for $25?”
The first exhibition will be on Oct. 20 and will also be available on pay-per-view for $29.95. Tyson’s financial problems are well-known and he can be found as recently as this month training in front of hundreds of Las Vegas casino-goers as a side show.
“I truly hate fighting. I’ve got a bad taste in my mouth,” Tyson told The Associated Press during one of the sessions. “I’m looking to make a buck like anyone else.”
Mike Tyson has been a self-parody for quite some time and this shouldn’t be very surprising. Tyson has lost all interest in being a boxer but doesn’t have the ability to do much else, except for that rumored entrance into the adult entertainment world. But being that he can’t exactly be trusted in the sack, exhibition fights are all he has left. If this helps Iron Mike get back on his feet then good for him, but this is just one of those things I’m going to ignore until it goes away.
Source: ESPN.com
