Almost Final!!!!
Almost Final!!!!
Round 2 at Pyramid brings Tyson-Lewis bout closer
March 19, 2002
Memphis moved a step closer on Monday to landing the Lennox Lewis-Mike Tyson heavyweight title bout as the boxers' representatives spent more than seven hours in meetings at The Pyramid.
"All I can tell you is that they seemed to be asking the questions that you ask when you get down to the wire," said Pyramid general manager Alan Freeman.
Nashville-based promoter Brian Young, asked if there was an agreement in principle to stage the June 8 fight in Memphis, said, "I can't answer that right now. The news will be evolving over the next day or so." Young also said he was "both hopeful and confident."
The meetings - which included a show-of-support visit from Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton - marked the second visit in less than a week by Tyson adviser Shelly Finkel and Gary Shaw, chief operating officer of Main Events, which promotes the champion Lewis.
Afterward, they declined comment on their search for a fight site and how Memphis stacks up against Washington D.C., which had been considered a front-runner despite reported questions about the city's financing deal.
Freeman said Main Events submitted a contract to an investor group put together by Young. Freeman said the contract dealt with "technical needs, security needs, space needs, transportation, all that sort of stuff."
Freeman said he didn't know the status of financial talks between Main Events and the investor group, which has not been identified.
Freeman also said the boxers' representatives planned to remain in the area and visit Tunica casinos today. Memphis's proximity to the casinos is considered a main strength for the city as it competes against Washington. The boxers' representatives canceled a Friday meeting at D.C.'s MCI Center and that meeting reportedly has not been rescheduled.
"They have to see what their deal is in other places," Michael Brown, vice chairman of the D.C. boxing commission, said of Monday's Memphis developments in an interview with Washington's WUSA-TV. "And I certainly don't blame them for that. They're being business people, and they're trying to figure out what the best way economically is for them to make money."
Brown said D.C.'s battle for the fight would be "pretty close to over" if another city increases its financial offer. The fight site has been in doubt because of controversy that has surrounded Tyson in and out of the ring. However, Tyson is licensed to fight in both D.C. and Tennessee.
Herenton, who spent about an hour in the meetings, stressed the economic benefits of what has been called a "Super Bowl of boxing."
"I'm obviously aware of the fact that there's some people that will focus on some aspects of the backgrounds of the fighters," Herenton, a former Golden Gloves boxer, said as he left The Pyramid. "What I would encourage people to look at is the benefits of this sporting event, economically, and from a marketing perspective, for the city of Memphis."
Herenton, asked about a possible role the city might play in security or other areas, declined to talk specifics, but said, "Obviously there's concerns about hospitality, transportation, security, community reception to this event - some logistical kinds of questions, yes."
State Rep. Joe Towns Jr., who has worked to bring the fight to Memphis, said, "This puts us on an international stage in a very positive way, and it's good revenue."
Towns said he's calling the fight "The Bloody on the Muddy."
