Lingle will trust panel to decide on Tyson
By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Writer
Unlike New Jersey, where the governor has vowed to block Mike Tyson from fighting in state-run facilities after its boxing commission licensed the controversial fighter Monday, Hawai'i Gov. Linda Lingle said she will leave the issue up to the Hawai'i State Boxing Commission.
Promoters have approached the Hawai'i commission about licensing the former heavyweight champion for a proposed Sept. 11 mixed boxing/K-1 card at Aloha Stadium and an application could come before the commission next month. The commission last week said it would be willing to consider an application.
Tyson
Lingle said through a spokesman yesterday that she would defer to the commission. "She trusts the commission to do the right thing," said Russell Pang, Lingle's chief of media relations.
Bobby Lee, an adviser to the Hawai'i commission, said, "if they turned down everybody with a (criminal) record, there would be no boxing anywhere."
However, the New Jersey committee's license for an unspecified date and site drew quick denunciations yesterday from governor James E. McGreevey and state officials, who have threatened to close state venus to Tyson.
"He will not fight in the Meadowlands or in Atlantic City," Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority President George Zoffinger told the Bergen Record.
"So, what's he going to do, fight in a bar somewhere?" state Senate President Richard Codey also told the Record. "That would be appropriate for him, I suppose."
"If you read the statute (governing licenses), it mentions good character, honesty, and integrity," Codey told the Record. "On a scale of zero to 100, with 100 being the best, Tyson gets a zero on all those requirements. This is an absolute disgrace."
The Hawai'i rules allow the commission to, "determine whether or not the applicant possesses the necessary physical, mental and moral qualifications to entitle the applicant to a license."
Two years ago the Hawai'i commission — largely composed of members who would be different from the ones who could hear the application next month — voted 4-1 in an "unofficial" poll to reject feelers from Tyson's camp about a license.
In addition to Tyson's convictions on rape and assault, the commission was concerned that Tyson would use the license to fight elsewhere, officials have said.
Hawai'i commissioner Willes Lee, who will chair the commission next month, said, "they (promoters) haven't yet turned in anything. When that happens, we're going to have to review that.
"Clearly, some of the issues New Jersey is dealing with will also be involved in our (discussions)."
Alan Taniguchi, executive officer of the Hawai'i commission, said his office has received one complaint about the commission being willing to consider Tyson for a license.
Tyson is no longer under suspension by the Nevada Athletic Commission, which had taken away his license in 1997. "He's free to fight anywhere in the word and I anticipate him applying for a license (in Nevada) one of these days," said Marc Ratner, Nevada's executive director.
Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.
