Controversy Follows Tyson to South Africa
Wednesday January 30, 2008
Former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson is in South Africa to be honored at a charity fundraising banquet to benefit children's organizations. Hardly controversial, right? Wrong!
Find out why the event's keynote speaker was pressured into withdrawing from appearing with Iron Mike.
Comments
One can only be amazed that Mr. Tyson would be selected for an “honor” when there are so many deserving and “honorable” boxers of colr who are far more deserving and up to the tribute. For example, George Forman, a man of dignity and “honor” or Mr. Hollyfield, who Tyson viciously attacked with teeth when his fists failed, or Lennox Lewis, a wonderful representative of boxing. Mr. Tyson has exhibited few “honorable” characteristics and lond been on a path of ruin and demeaning behavior to women and his opponents and boxing fans. It is this kind of action that makes boxing trivial and an object of derision.
Hi Don. You insist that Evander Holyfield is more deserving than bad Mike Tyson to receive honors.
Holyfield now has nine children – the newborn Elijah Jedidiah to his wife, Janice; three with his first wife, Paulette, from whom he has been divorced since 1991; and five other of Holyfield’s children were born out of wedlock to four different women.
Holyfield also bit an opponent’s ear during a boxing match when he was an amateur. That could be why he, himself, did not make a big stink of Tyson’s ear-biting.
You are right though, Mike is bad. He was considered once the “Baddest Man” on the planet. High Testosterone just may be a requirement to be a boxing champion.
hello, i am writing not because i am in disagreement about the facts concerning iron mike or evander holyfield, but i would like to offer, perhaps, a side note regarding mike tyson. as an avid boxing fan, i have seen mike tyson be very tender and caring in the ring to opponents, (francoise boethe) and i’ve seen him be extremely tender with children. (recent music video from india). i believe that no one is beyond redemption and mike tyson is no different. everyone must be given an opportunity to redeem themselves, be forgiven and try to make up for what they have done. he must have some merit or the first wife of nelson mandela would not have invited him. he must have impressed her in some favorable way. i believe that there is a side to mike tyson that few see. if he was entirely horrible, during his recent sentencing both of his former wives would not have pleaded for leniency. they would have been glad to see him punished. for the record, i am a female, 60 years old, not necessarily a tyson fan, but certainly a believer that even the “baddest” can redeem themselves and should be forgiven. best wishes to all on this board and let’s keep boxing, the sweet science alive.
I really appreciate everyone’s comments and viewpoints. I was a Tyson fan early in his career and watched how whatever fame he earned transformed him into a completely different person. Early on he was a very serious student of boxing and had learned his lessons well from the likes of Cus and Teddy Atlas and he could have been truly a great. His downfall was profound and horrible. Yes, everyone can receive the gift of redemption, even disenchanted boxing fans like me, but of Mr. Tyson, that redemption has not yet occurred. His latest drug charge and the recent lap dance episode a week ago broadcast on Fox News channel is just more of the same. Sure, perhaps Mr. Hollyfield could do better and would not be the best to bring forward, but Lennox Lewis or George Foreman (a man who has indeed found his own redemption)is certainly deserving of honors and praise. I do appreciate evryone’s comments and I apologize if I appeared too smug and self-righteous.