quote:

---

Tyson Granted License in D.C.
Tue Feb 19, 2:53 PM ET
By JOSEPH WHITE, AP Sports Writer

WASHINGTON - Mike Tyson was granted a boxing license by the D.C. Boxing and Wrestling Commission on Tuesday, setting the stage for a possible bout against Lennox Lewis at the MCI Center in June.

Audio/Video
Iron Mike's Vegas Fight Dreams KO'd (ABCNEWS.com)



The three-member commission approved the license by a 3-0 vote via conference call.

"To say we are not concerned about his past would be disingenuous," vice chairman Michael Brown said. "But we looked at the application on its face."

Tyson has been looking for a boxing body — in the United States or abroad — that would permit him to fight WBC-IBF heavyweight champ Lewis. The bout was originally scheduled for April 6 in Las Vegas, but Nevada officials denied Tyson a license after a melee with Lewis at a news conference last month.

"Main Events will start work on the feasibility of promoting a bout in Washington D.C.," said Gary Shaw, the chief operating officer of Main Events, Lewis' U.S. promoter.

Tyson's past also includes a three-year prison sentence for rape, a one-year sentence for a road rage assault and a one-year boxing suspension for biting Evander Holyfield's ears during a fight. Nevada police are currently investigating two sexual assault complaints against Tyson, although no charges have been filed.

With Nevada out of the picture, Tyson's supporters have searched the world for potential venues. California, Texas, Michigan, Georgia, England, Denmark and the Netherlands are just some of the sites that have been floated, most without success. Georgia, for example, fell out of the running the moment Gov. Roy Barnes referred to Tyson as a "sexual predator."

Washington Mayor Anthony Williams has said he would not object to Tyson's fighting in the district if the commission gave its approval. Both Williams and Brown cited the economic impact the fight would bring.

"Sept. 11 has changed a lot of things," Brown said. "A lot of hotel and restaurant people are out of work, and this fight would be helpful to the city."

---

quote:

---

are they crazy????

---

quote:

---

Tyson=controversey. In boxing, controversey=money and lots of it

---

quote:

---

I knew if I waited long enough TW would finally make a good point on this board, and here it is.

---

quote:

---

Since sept. 11 the tourist market in DChas been nothing. While NY has had the world series and other assorted concerts and such, DC hasn't had much. A good way to bump that up is to have an "event" and no matter what you think about him and how long they last, a Tyson fight is an "event". People will come from all over the world to see this fight, if it comes to frution and put some much needed money back into DC.

---

quote:

---

who gives a fuck about DC??

---

quote:

---

The people in dc? But I can see what you are saying. I mean its only the home base of our government, not an important city or anything

---