Keyword
BOXING
Champions
Schedule
SPORT SECTIONS
Monday, June 12
 
British official wants to review medication

Associated Press

LONDON -- The head of British boxing is waiting for information on Mike Tyson's use of antidepressants, an issue that threatens the former champion's upcoming bout in Scotland.

Simon Block, the general secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control, said Monday his organization "urgently" asked for the medical information.

"We want to know what medication Mike Tyson is, or is not, on before we make the decision about a license," he said. Tyson is to fight Lou Savarese in Glasgow June 24.

The issue was first raised last month, and the BBBC has said it won't license Tyson if he is taking antidepressants. It said it was previously unaware of the medical situation.

Officials, however, have been unable to explain why Tyson was allowed to fight in Manchester, England, last January, long after his wife testified in a Maryland court that he was was taking the drug Zoloft to combat depression.

Tyson has been taking medication for about two years and has had three fights in that period, facing Francois Botha, Orlin Norris and Julius Francis, the last fight in England. It is believed, however, Tyson goes off antidepressants before he fights.

An American TV producer said Monday the issue was being dredged up by rival promoters who want to scuttle the Tyson-Savarese fight.

Jay Larkin, executive producer of Showtime, accused the camp of heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis of getting the BBBC to look into Tyson's medical history, which he said had been "openly discussed" and was a "nonissue."

"Where is this coming from?" Larkin said in a conference call. "As they say in a good detective novel, follow the money. In whose interest would it be for this fight to be canceled, if there were only one heavyweight fight in the U.K. in the next 30 or 60 days?"

Lewis is to defend his title against Francois Botha in London on July 15.

"No matter what happens he (Lewis) is not a draw," Larkin said. "The only one he can fight to make him a draw is Mike Tyson."

The Tyson fight at Hampden Park soccer stadium has reportedly sold between 30,000 and 40,000 tickets. The stadium seats around 60,000.

Lewis' promoter, Panos Eliades, said the fight with Botha had sold about 6,000 tickets in the 12,500-seat London Arena. He said his camp had nothing to do with questions about Tyson's medication and accused Larkin of using Lewis to create publicity.

"He (Larkin) is doing a very clever bit of public relations work in using Lennox Lewis' name to bring awareness to the Tyson fight," Eliades said. "It has nothing to do with us."




 More from ESPN...
Prescription drug helps Tyson 'react properly'

Tyson cleared by court to fight in Scotland

 ESPN Tools
Email story
 
Most sent
 
Print story