Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, August 17, 1995 TAG: 9508170054
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LAS VEGAS LENGTH: Medium
``Will you be quiet while I talk,'' the former undisputed heavyweight champion said Wednesday.
King fell silent.
Tyson, wearing a shiny black T-shirt and black trousers, was short and to the point and sometimes sharp in answering questions at the final news conference for his comeback fight against Peter McNeeley on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden.
In another instance, when King announced that Tyson was getting $25 million plus $500,000 in training expenses, a smiling Tyson, said, ``Why you telling them my business, man.''
When asked to explain why if he said he thought people close to him would betray him he went back to those people after he was released from prison, Tyson said, ``I said it because I meant it. As to why I went back to them, that's none of your business.''
Tyson, promoted by Don King and managed by John Horne and Rory Holloway, then called the questioner, ``a character-killer.''
Tyson refused to elaborate on a statement he made on the Black Entertainment Television network that he was set up on his rape conviction.
``You never watched BET until I was on there, did you?'' Tyson asked the questioner.
Asked for a prediction on the fight, for which he is a 17-1 favorite, Tyson said, ``I'm just in there doing my thing. You know what I do.''
Later, however, he said, ``I'm going to knock out Peter McNeeley.''
When Tyson was asked what he thought McNeeley would gain from fighting him, he said the question should be asked of McNeeley.
``I won't accept that question, man,'' McNeeley snapped. ``It's a stupid question.''
Then he said, ``obviously I got everything to gain.''
Earlier McNeeley read a poem, which started, ``I'm Peter McNeeley from Medfield, Mass., and on Saturday night I'm going to Mike Tyson's ...''
Tyson said he thought that was cute.
Tyson, who converted to Islam while serving three years in the Indiana Youth Center, was asked how he reconciled his religion with his harsh profession?
``This is my calling from God,'' Tyson said of boxing. ``This is what I do. It's the only thing I'm interested in doing.
``Islam is just a way of life. Islam is universal. There's nothing bushily changed about me. I'm just more concerned about my role in life.''
Tyson smiled when a woman from the Dominican Republic asked if had gotten in divorce from actress Robin Givens in her country.
``That's absolutely true, Tyson said.
Tyson was relaxed, often chatting and laughing with Horne and Holloway while King introduced the dais in his usual rambling fashion during the news conference that lasted about two hours.
In introducing Joe Hipp, the challenger to World Boxing Association heavyweight champion Bruce Seldon, who was born on a Blackfeet reservation in Montana, King saw fit to give a brief history of Custer and the Battle of the Little Big Horn.
Hipp drew laughs when he said, ``I'd like to thank the academy for all the votes. Wrong speech.''
Tyson's first fight in a little less than 50 months will be the featured match on a pay-per-view television card that begins at 9 p.m. and includes three world title fights.
The show will open with Miguel Gonzalez of Mexico defending the World Boxing Council lightweight title against Lamar Murphy of Miami, Next will be the bout between Bruce Seldon, of Gloucester Township, N.J., and Joe Hipp, of Yakima, Wash., followed by Tyson-McNeeley and a WBC middleweight title defense by Julian Jackson of the St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Quincy Taylor of Dallas.
In a 2 p.m. fight, Luis Santana of New York will defend the WBC super welterweight title against Terry Norris of Campo, Calif.
by CNB