Tyson / K-1: Done Deal

courtesy of K-1

According to K-1, "Iron" Mike Tyson has signed an exclusive management contract with the premier

kickboxing organization. The contract gives K-1 the rights to handle a publicity tour and commercial

endorsements for Tyson in Japan. Tyson said that Japan will make him a rich person.

While the amount of money was not disclosed, according to the New York Times, Tyson was guaranteed

almost $4 million plus a signing bonus of $200,000.

When Tyson will debut in K-1 is still being negotiated but K-1 did mention that they wanted him to fight in

December on New Years Eve.  This could only be Antonio Inoki's year end show  "Bom-Ba-Ye" held in

Japan.

His opponent? More than likely, it will be Bob Sapp. But Tyson has stated in the past that he didn't want to

fight Sapp under K-1 rules and Sapp has stated that he only wanted to fight Tyson under MMA rules. The

compromise will probably be K-1 rules which would favor Tyson. 

And according to the New York Times, Tyson is soon expected to go to Japan to begin his publicity

campaign for the year end bout.

But all is not set in stone. There is talk of a potential boxing match on December 6, 2003 for Tyson.

Tyson has asked K-1 to postpone his debut until February but that "he will try his best [to comply} with the

promoters offer." 

The December 6th boxing match has not been finalized and no opponent has been named. 

It's kind of interesting that Vitali Klitschko has stated that he would fight on December 6, 2003 regardless of

whether Lennox Lewis was his opponent or not. And while we doubt that Tyson would be his opponent, the

possibility that both would fight on the same day has some people speculating about a Klitschko/Tyson

bout. 

Stay tuned...

(8/25/03)