SHOWTIME FRONTS TYSON IRS CASH
Besieged by the Internal Revenue Service who are threatening to sell his homes in Ohio,
Delaware, and Nevada because he owes them $13 million in back taxes, Mike Tyson this week
received a $24 million dollar advance from Showtime Entertainment Television, or the Pay
Per View arm of SHOWTIME.
"D" DAY WAS NEW YEARS EVE
The "G" had given Tyson until December 31, to come up with the cash. But Tyson
won't fight until January 16, thus he the needed loan. This puts Tyson upright financially
once again.
WHO'S DA' BUM?
The only thing I can tell you for sure is that it'll be somebody who can't punch. That's
why the short list consisted of Axel Schultz, Frans Botha, and Brian Nielsen. All three
guys have been confirmed as being the fodder feasted upon the King of Pay Per View in his
first outing since the infamous bite fight. As of Friday AM, Botha was the leading
candidate.
FINKEL STILL THERE
Shelley Finkel still seems to have the most clout in the group said to be representing the
former champion. The former rock manager/promoter who guided most of the 1984 Olympic Team
to professional glory has been dissed by Tyson in private discussions with a number of
people.
A TRAINER?
The guy holding the pads with Tyson these days is said to be Stacy McKinley. Texas
conditioner Jessie Reid tried to work things out but he is not a man who can be
disrespected, abused, or not listened to. Mike knows this, thus Jessie wasn't the guy.
McKinley has worked with a number of pugs in the past, including Tyson. But Stacy is a low
keyed type of guy that Mike could steam roll, and that's why he's there.
THE METAMORPHOSIS OF HAMHEAD
From hero to zero, and in just one night! Is it possible? Naseem Hamed was hammered
without mercy by the English press this week following his 12 round decision over Wayne
McCullough last Saturday night in Atlantic City.
LOOKED LIKE SPIT
How can anybody say that Hamed looked good against Wayne? And for those of you who compare
his abilities to that of Muhammad Ali, you should go back to school and take the course
Boxing 101.
BRITISH FANS THOUGHT HE LOST
There were a lot of Brits present in the Convention Center who thought Hamed had lost.
Disgusted by the assaholic behavior exhibited by their royal midget, some of them headed
for the exits before the decision was even announced.
HAMHEAD, WARREN, HBO, AND DK
Frank Warren has been Hamed's promoter of record. In fact, it was Warren who brought Hamed
to Home Box Office who then signed him to a multi fight deal.
WARREN MISREPRESENTED HIMSELF AGAIN
Frankie baby told HBO that he had no contract splitting the promotional rights of Hamed
with Don King. This was a blatant mistruth and it is the basis of King being able to
legally freeze all of Warren's assets as he has done of late.
KING 7, WARREN ZERO!
That's how many straight hearings promoter Don King has won in his battle with Warren in
the UK courts. A final decision in the matter will come in January. But my legal minds
tell me that there is nothing Warren can do to avoid King taking darn near everything he
has.
DON AIN'T WILLING TO DEAL
DK is not willing to settle this matter with his former partner Warren. "I brought
that man back from Chapter 7 in the bankruptcy book, and he screwed me." The
impression I get is that King wants Warren to crawl.
WARREN BANKED ON CONVICTION
But instead, King was acquitted of Fraud charges this past July.
MORE MISREPRESENTATION
Warren told HBO he had Hamed in pocket until late 1999, when in fact his agreement with
the Prince expired in August pf 1998.
TONIGHT ON THE "DEUCE"
For those of you in the eastern two thirds of the United States, the Friday Night Fights
on ESPN are a present from God. But, if you live in the Pacific time zone, you have a
fight card that begins at 5:00 on the west coast, a time when most people are in rush hour
transit.
PAZMAN VS ALLEN
Vinnie Pazienza nd Arthur Allen will hook it up in the main event on the Friday Night
Fights on ESPN 2.
A CHANGE IMMINENT?
According to matchmaker supreme Russell Peltz, the ESPN suits are considering changing the
starting time to 9:00 PM ET, or 6:00 PM in the west. "If they decide to change the
starting time, it won't happen until January," said Peltz who will appear on Ring
Talk Saturday night at 11:06 PM ET on the Talk America radio Network with LIVE Internet
audio at www.talkamerica.com
NOT YET CONFIRMED...
Are SHOWTIME Chief Jay Larkin, who will hopefully discuss next Friday's card at the Las
Vegas Hilton that features the rematch between unbeaten 105 lb. champs Ricardo Lopez and
Rosendo Alvarez.
Their first encounter ended in a controversial technical draw ruling after Lopez was
butted. BUTT or not, Alvarez was kicking the snot out of the highly regarded Lopez who had
been hammered early and knocked down by the Nicaraguan.
SHOWTIME WILL AIR...
The fight along with an appearance by Christy Martin against some hobo-ess at 10 PM ET
with the fight being delayed on the west coast also beginning at 10 PM PT.
LEDERMAN TOO!
One of your favorite guests Harold Ledrman of HBO fame will also be a guest on the
Saturday night show as will Charles Muniz, a New Jerseysite who was supposed to promote
hamed-McCullough.
PINCHED NERVE SLOWS THE POISON
While reading a new JFK Assassination book three weeks ago in bed, I fell asleep and awoke
with a pinched nerve in my neck/back. The prescribed medication is why I've been less
venomous this week.
LOOK OUT FOR SATURDAY
That's all I can say. Besides a column, and an interview with WBA welterweight champ James
Page, I'll also put forth "Your E Mail" which is extremely HOTT this week!
Pedro Fernandez
The writer with few peers has his own site at www.fighters.com
and can be reached at flash@inow.com