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Friday, June 13, 1997
Tyson places blame for loss
NEW YORK (AP) -- Mike Tyson certainly didn't duck all of Evander Holyfield's punches, and he's not ducking the responsibility for his 11th-round knockout loss either.
"I blame myself for it," Tyson said in a conference call Thursday. "There's no one to blame but myself."
And he plans to do something about that WBA title loss Nov. 9 when he challenges Holyfield on June 28 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the site of the first fight.
"I predict a sensational victory," he said.
The rematch originally was scheduled for May 3, but it was postponed after Tyson suffered a cut over the left eye while sparring.
Since Tyson was stopped in the 11th round, Richie Giachetti has replaced Jay Bright as trainer, and Tyson said Giachetti has helped him improve his balance and speed.
"I've watched the tape (of the first fight) a few times and I saw a few mistakes I made that I don't want to make this time," Tyson said.
One of the mistakes, he said, was lack of head movement. It was a problem he also had when he lost the undisputed championship on a 10th-round knockout to James "Buster" Douglas on Feb. 11, 1990 in Tokyo.
"He's just a great fighter," Tyson said of Holyfield, but he seemed irritated by questions about Holyfield.
Asked about Holyfield's professed confidence for the rematch, Tyson said, "We're going to find out if he's a big boy this time."
He also was asked how it felt to fight an opponent who was not afraid of him.
"I don't know anything about this, 'They're afraid of me crap,' " Tyson said. "I'm just in there to fight."
After the last question was asked, Mike Marley of Don King Productions asked Tyson if had a closing statement.
"Just hang up the damn phone, OK?" he said.
