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Tyson seeks entry for June fight

Associated Press

GLASGOW, Scotland -- A Scottish government minister wants Mike Tyson barred from Britain for a proposed fight in Glasgow next month.

The former heavyweight champion has applied for a visa to fight Lou Saverese on June 24.

Britain's top law enforcement official, Home Secretary Jack Straw, plans to study the application.

Tyson, who served three years for a rape conviction, was cleared to enter the country in January by Straw despite a law that bars entry to anyone who has served a jail sentence of a year or more. Tyson knocked out Julius Francis in Manchester, England.

Scotland's deputy communities minister Jackie Baillie said Tyson should not be allowed back.

"I have difficulty with anybody who has been convicted of perpetrating violence against women," she told Scottish Television at the launch of a booklet about sexual abuse. "On a personal basis I don't particularly want Mike Tyson to come to Scotland.

"I think you need to recognize the circumstances under which he came the last time was that the Home Secretary granted a one-off visa in the special circumstances of tickets being sold and the venue booked.

"We're talking here about an early stage of the process. To my knowledge no tickets have been sold. My personal view is that I don't condone any violence against women. My personal view is I very much find what he has done to be unacceptable."

Two fellow Scottish politicians tabled motions with the Scottish Parliament against the proposed fight.

"I understand that immigration laws in this country ban foreign nationals who have criminal convictions of more than a year from entering the country," Labor Party parliamentarian Hugh Henry said. "Mike Tyson clearly fits into that category."

Women's groups are lining up against Tyson as they did in January .

"We would be very concerned about what kind of message that sends out and how seriously the offense of rape is taken," said Sandy Brindley of the Rape Crisis Line.

Leading Scottish boxing promoter Tommy Gilmour also said the fight should not go ahead.

"If there are rules they should be the same for everyone and money shouldn't make any difference," he said. "There's no point in asking the questions and if you don't get the right answer then saying you can get in anyway. The fight shouldn't be allowed, rules are rules and you can't just break them for a big fight."

The promoters of the fight, Sports Network, expect to find out whether the fight will go ahead next week.

Two rival sites in Glasgow are trying to land the bout: Scotland's national soccer stadium, Hamden Park, and Celtic's Parkhead stadium.

In January, Straw cited exceptional circumstances in letting Tyson into the country, saying cancellation of the Francis fight would have cost small businesses in Manchester millions of dollars. But he also suggested the visa might be a one-time occurrence.




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