Tyson pleads for another chance

Mike Tyson is a convicted rapist, a street brawler, a road-rager jailed for assault, a serial biter and a spendthrift who has frittered away at least £200million.

All in all, the former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world is a thoroughly nasty piece of work who many believe deserves the revulsion and ridicule that regularly comes his way.

Yet today, on his 38th birthday, Tyson insisted he deserves another chance to earn more millions, more headlines, and more gory glory in the boxing ring.

That chance will come on Friday, 30 July when Tyson goes in against former British and Commonwealth title holder Danny Williams at the Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky.

At a press conference to formally announce the contest, only Tyson's second since he was battered to a bloody defeat by Londoner Lennox Lewis in Memphis two years ago, the controversial American was on his best behaviour.

Prior to the Lewis bout a similar press conference had erupted in violence during which Tyson sank his teeth into his rival's thigh. But this time he insisted: "I am not here to be a tough guy. I will be a tough guy on 30 July."

Tyson's last fight was a first-round knockout of journeyman Clifford Etienne 16 months ago. A fit-looking Tyson said today: "It just felt great to be back in the ring. I just realised that I missed this tremendously. I really enjoy the sound of the crowds, the sound of the gloves hitting the head and my opponent hitting the mat.

"I have been foolish not to fight. I am the most foolish person I know. I am a fool, but I'm glad to be back. I have had a chequered past but I deserve a second chance to sweep it away. There are too many distractions and I wish I could juggle them more successfully. But I do not like to live by anyone's rules."

It is understood that the fight against Williams is the first of seven scheduled for the next three years which should enable Tyson to clear debts of £22m.

But Williams believes he can upset that plan even though he has a loss on his record, later avenged, to fellow Londoner Julius Francis who lasted less than two rounds against Tyson in January 2000.

The 30-year-old from Brixton, who is thought to be earning a purse of £150,000, said: "A lot of people think I am going to get knocked out, but I am going to prove them wrong. I want what he had: big houses, big cars. This is like a world title fight for me."