| Mosley Destroyed! Tyson Denied! | |
| Boxing News & Notes: Jan. 30, 2002 | |
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The boxing world was shocked twice in the last week. First, Shane Mosley was easily defeated - and nearly knocked out - by Vernon Forrest. Then, even more improbably, the Nevada State Athletic Commission voted 4-1 to deny Mike Tyson a license to box in Nevada.
Last things first. So where do things stand with the Lennox Lewis-Mike Tyson fight? Obviously, it will not happen in Nevada on April 6 as originally scheduled. However, since Tyson was only denied a license but not placed on suspension, he can still apply for a license in another state -- or fight in another country. With both fighters still claiming they want the fight to happen, another location, such as Detroit or Copenhagen, might be selected - perhaps as early as April 6 but most likely at a later date. The bigger question remains: Should Mike Tyson EVER be allowed to fight again? Consider his history in the ring: biting Evander Holyfield's ears; trying to break Frans Botha's arm; hitting Orlin Norris after the bell; hitting Lou Savarese and the referee after the fight was over. Consider his recent actions outside the ring: felony sexual assault charges pending in two separate cases; inciting a brawl at last week's Lewis-Tyson press conference; biting a "significant piece of flesh" out of Lewis' left thigh (requiring a tetanus shot) during the ensuing fracas; launching a violent, racist, homophobic verbal attack against members of the media after the brawl had finally ended; blatantly disregarding U.S. laws against citizens traveling to or vacationing in Cuba -- not to mention prior convictions for rape and road rage. The evidence overwhelmingly supports Nevada's decision not to license Tyson. In fact, the evidence overwhelmingly suggests Tyson's remaining ring career should be like that of '70s light heavyweight contender James Scott. Scott fought his fights as inmate number 57735 behind bars at Rahway State Prison in New Jersey -- leaving his cell only long enought to fight and then returning to his cell at the conclusion of each bout. Goodbye Mike. At the other end of the boxing character spectrum, Sugar Shane Mosley was handed his first professional defeat by Vernon Forrest. Forrest, who outpointed Mosley in a three-round bout at the Olympic trials in 1992, dominated the action from the second round - in which Mosley was knocked down twice and nearly KO'd - until the final bell. Mosley, a 7-1 favorite, was widely considered to be among the top three pound-for-pound fighters in the world. A rematch is being considered but unless Mosley comes up with a radically different battle plan then it's hard to see how the outcome would be any different. This is not to say that Mosley is finished. Or even that Forrest is the better fighter. This is taking nothing away from Forrest, who fought a brilliant fight. Rather, it just appears that Forrest possesses a style that will always give Mosley trouble. This was not a back and forth fight -- Mosley had NO good moments on which to build confidence for a rematch. If Hopkins and Trinidad fought again, does anyone doubt that the outcome would be the same? How about Barrera and Hamed? Or Mayweather and Corrales? Even Muhammad Ali was never able to figure out and decisively conquer Ken Norton. Mosley seems to have found his Ken Norton. The remaining claimants to the pound-for-pound title - Roy Jones Jr. and Bernard Hopkins - are both in action this weekend. Each is facing a challenger significantly inferior to Vernon Forrest but would be wise to remember the lesson that Mosley just learned: EVERY FIGHTER IS BEATABLE. CLICK HERE FOR LATEST BOXING NEWS & NOTES
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