Boxing: Georgia governor swings at Tyson

ATLANTA - Georgia Governor Roy Barnes intensified his criticism of boxer Mike Tyson yesterday, calling him a "sexual predator" and asking the Georgia Boxing Commission to rescind his licence to fight in the state.

Since being denied a boxing licence on January 29 by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Tyson's promoters have been looking for other sites for a title bout against heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis.

Atlanta has emerged as a candidate, along with Los Angeles, Colorado and Texas.

House Republicans introduced a resolution urging the commission not to allow Tyson to fight in the Georgia Dome.

Meanwhile, Miami mayor Manny Diaz said he would like to bring the fight to his city despite opposition from the governor and some members of the city's Cuban-American community.

Diaz yesterday said the bout would add $US150 million ($359 million) to the local economy while raising the city's sporting profile.

But Governor Jeb Bush opposes holding the fight in Miami.

"I don't think he thinks it would be a good thing for Florida," Bush spokeswoman Lisa Gates said.

Lewis, who has a home in Miami Beach, and Tyson have not applied for a licence from the Florida Boxing Commission.

* David Tua's bid to climb out of boxing's trough has seen him challenge former heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman to a rematch in an open letter posted on the internet.

A letter from Tua's manager, Kevin Barry, was a response to one Rahman sent to Evander Holyfield last week in a bid to reposition himself for another shot at the title.

Rahman posted the letter on leading boxing website fightnews.com.

"After giving it much thought, I decided the best way to regain the heavyweight championship again would be by earning it by only taking on the toughest challenges. This would be by fighting Evander Holyfield," Rahman wrote.

However, with Holyfield declining the fight, Tua has taken the opportunity to call a bluff on Rahman, who he controversially knocked out after the bell rang at the end of a round in their 1997 fight.

"This fight gives you the chance to prove to yourself that you are not afraid to face a man who has previously knocked you out and not afraid to face the possibility of being knocked out for a fourth time," Barry wrote.

"If you really want a fight that matters to the fans, sign to fight Tua. He is only too happy to fight you and give you the opportunity to face your fear."

Tua is ranked ninth by the International Boxing Federation, falling from his No.1 spot after his loss to Chris Byrd late last year. Rahman is ranked fourth.

Rahman has said he will never fight Tua again, because Tua had denied him a rematch after their controversial fight, which derailed Rahman from a string of big paydays.

Rahman was comfortably ahead on all the judges' cards until hit after the bell.

- AGENCIES