Ex-champ Tyson could fight in Hawai'i

BY FERD LEWIS
Advertiser Staff Writer

Two years after the Hawai'i State Boxing Commission signaled its opposition to licensing Mike Tyson, the group has agreed to consider approving a Sept. 11 combination boxing/K-1 card featuring the controversial former heavyweight champion at Aloha Stadium.

Approval could come next month, pending completion of contracts, exams and agreement on suitable matchups, officials said yesterday.

"We didn't approve of anything (Thursday)," said Alan Taniguchi, the commission's executive officer. "We told them (the promoters) they need to provide us with a contract that says, 'Mike Tyson is fighting X or Y.'" Commission adviser Bobby Lee described the meeting as, "informational."

Tyson, 37, would also be required to be examined by a commission doctor, but that could come as late as a week before the fight, Taniguchi said.

Commissioner Willes K. Lee, who is scheduled to become the chairman next month, said, "They (promoters) have formally begun the process, but they haven't submitted anything yet."

He said, "As long as he (Tyson) meets all the requirements just like any other fighter, we would approve it."

Approached by Tyson's people in 2002, the commission, which has undergone significant membership changes since then, expressed its opposition to licensing the controversial figure by a 4-1 "unofficial" vote.

Part of the reasoning, officials said, was that commission members were concerned Tyson's people just wanted to obtain the license here and then move the fight to another location.

But the current promoters, California-based Scott Coker and Honolulu's Tom Moffatt, said they plan to match Tyson in a boxing match with either Jerome Le Banner or Ray Sefo, both of whom have primarily been K-1 fighters.

K-1 is a mixed martial art style combining boxing, kick-boxing and other forms. The Tyson bout would be held under boxing rules. Some other bouts could be by K-1 rules.

Promoters listed Le Banner's overall "professional fighting record" at 50-8-1 and Sefo's at 45-11-1. Tyson is 50-4.

Tyson, whose license was suspended in 1997 after biting Evander Holyfield, is scheduled to fight Kevin McBride July 31 in St. Louis or Louisville. Tyson is not under suspension, according to Tim Lueckenhoff, president of the Association of Boxing Commissions.

Promoters mentioned the possibility of having Brian Viloria and other local fighters appear on the card but no contracts were presented or prospective opponents proposed. The card could also be shown internationally on a pay-per-view basis, promoters told the commission.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.