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Tuesday, October 20, 1998 Published at 11:12 GMT 12:12 UK


Talking Point


Should Tyson be boxing again?

"Iron" Mike Tyson, the self-styled "baddest man on the planet", has been given the all-clear to step into the boxing ring again.

And yet only last year the heavyweight fighting machine was banned for bringing shame on his sport by biting the ear of world champion Evander Holyfield.

Holyfield's ear was as mangled as boxing's reputation, and Tyson was dealt the ultimate knockout blow.

Surely it was the end of the line for the man whose volcanic temper had finally got the better of him. Biting was for babies and playgrounds, not for fighting men.

But boxing needs a big money draw like Tyson, and now the Nevada State Athletic Commission has voted to allow him to return.

At the hearing,Tyson, a marauding menace with hate in his eyes in the ring, was transformed into a meek and mild witness as he begged the commission: "Please don't torture me any longer, sir.

"I'm not going to murder anybody. I'm not a mass murderer."

Basketball star "Magic Johnson" and the ailing Mohammad Ali were called to support Tyson, while psychiatrists said the former champion was "mentally fit" to return.

That was good enough for the commission and Tyson could be back in the ring before the end of the year.

But were they right? Was it time to forgive Tyson or should boxing have been big enough to keep him out for good?

What do you think?

Should Tyson be boxing again?


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