Tyson may appeal record British fine

Mike Tyson has been fined a record £125,000 sterling by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC) - but he will be allowed to fight again in Britain.

The former undisputed world heavyweight champion was found guilty of misconduct after continuing to swing punches even though referee John Coyle had stopped the fight against stricken Lou Savarese at Hampden Park, Glasgow, in June.

Tyson has been given six weeks to pay up by the BBBC and will be banned from fighting in Britain only if he fails to settle the fine.

His lawyers have intimated they will appeal against the size of the fine, which easily beats the previous British record of £10,000, incurred by Chris Eubank for headbutting Dan Sherry in their WBO world middleweight title fight at Brighton in February 1991.

In statement, the BBBC said: "As far as the second charge (comments made to two television interviewers immediately afterwards pertaining to Lennox Lewis) is concerned, the stewards found Mr Tyson's remarks reprehensible and in consequence, he is administered a formal reprimand.

"Mr Tyson carries considerable responsibilities to those who look up to him, particularly young people, and we take this opportunity to remind him of that obligation.

"With regard to the first allegation (of not obeying the referee's instructions), the stewards find Mr Tyson guilty as charged.

"They have seriously considered the imposition of suspension of licence. However, having carefully considered the evidence, they decided that he be fined the sum of £125,000."

However, the punishment still pales in comparison to Tyson's $3 million fine imposed after he was disqualified for biting Evander Holyfield's ear in their Las Vegas rematch in June 1997.

The second charge related to remarks made immediately after his 38-second win over Savarese.

Tyson told Britain's Lennox Lewis after his defeat of Savarese: "I'm coming for you. I'm going to rip your heart out. I want to eat your children."

But Geoffrey Robertson QC, who led Tyson's British and American legal team at the BBBC hearing in London, said: "It's a victory for Tyson.

"He is the first to benefit under the 1998 Human Rights Act in that he was exercising his right to freedom of speech.

"The board gave us a fair hearing on that count, but we will consider appealing against this massive fine."

Frank Warren, who promoted the Savarese contest and also Tyson's British debut against Julius Francis in Manchester in January, said: "This huge fine shows how seriously the British Board took this matter.

"It's good that Tyson can continue if he wishes."

Warren would not be drawn when asked would he ever promote the controversial American again.

Tyson (34), is due to return to the ring on October 20th against Poland's Andrew Golota, another of boxing's controversial characters, in Detroit.

Golota, beaten in the first round by Lennox Lewis in October 1997, was twice disqualified against former world champion Riddick Bowe for illegal punching.