foes lining up to fight Tyson

Special to the Journal Sentinel

Las Vegas Mike Tyson is in the Land of Oz this week checking out the gaudy MGM Grand resort on the strip, his new fighting home.

It is no Hollywood fantasy, however, for the four heavyweights fighting up the road at Caesars Palace on Saturday (pay per view, 8 p.m. Milwaukee time). There is indeed a yellow brick road paved with gold that leads the winners directly to Oz and Tyson.

"Whoever holds the title and defends it against Mike Tyson, that's megabucks in the bank," said Bruce Seldon, who meets Tony Tucker for the vacant World Boxing Association crown as part of an extravagant five title-bout card at the 15,000- seat outdoor arena on the resort's grounds.

The other heavyweight bout, and the show's headliner, pits Oliver McCall against Larry Holmes. McCall will be making Leg 1 ends here the first defense of his World Boxing Council crown against the former champion, who has a 61-4 career record.

Tyson, who was released from an Indiana prison two weeks ago after serving a three- year sentence on a rape conviction, has energized the division with his mere presence. Tyson has signed a multimillion-dollar deal with Showtime to televise his fights and signed a deal with the MGM Grand to play host to his bouts.

"I'm looking at the end of the rainbow and there is a whole lot at the end of the rainbow," said Seldon, who has a 31-3 record.

Published estimates have suggested that a bout with Tyson later this year would mean a $10 million to $20 million payday for the fighters. Since Don King promotes Tyson as well as the other four fighters, putting together such a bout should not be difficult.

"Tyson is good for heavyweight boxing," said Tucker (52-2), who lost the title to Tyson in 1987. "He brings money to boxing. He's a motivator.

Leg 2 ends here "This fight here, he makes it bigger because everyone knows whoever wins this fight could get a real good shot at Tyson."

Like the others, McCall knows what's at stake and he knows that first things come first.

"The money will be there, as long as I stay champion, so I'm only thinking about Larry Holmes and I'm going to knock him out in three rounds," said McCall (25-5), who floored Lennox Lewis in the second round nearly eight months ago to win the title.

McCall is the most outspoken about his chances against Tyson, his confidence high from the 300 to 350 rounds of sparring he did with the former champion during a 2 1/2-year stretch.

"I know the key is to not let him get a real solid footing to throw his punches," said McCall, 29. "I know how to keep Tyson off-balance and that is something that Buster Douglas proved to do with Tyson."

Douglas stopped Tyson in the 10th round in 1990 to take the crown and hand the former Leg 3 ends here champion his only pro loss.

Before that shocking afternoon in Tokyo, Tyson had bullied his way through opponents with ferocious fury.

"Mike Tyson has intimidated so many opponents," McCall said. "He has scared them and made them freeze like a deer in the street with the light on. That gives Tyson the chance to get off.

"I have learned as soon as Tyson comes and gets fierce, those are the times that you punch first and use your quickness, and I have very quick hands."

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