Se7en
08-30-2003, 05:30 PM
I thought I'd post this, as it is sports related, and I thought it was worth attention.
Financially strapped Mike Tyson seems to be entering into a new venture - working for K-1, one of the world's premier Mixed Martial Arts organizations.
Here's a New York Times article on the story:
Tyson Fighting For K-1 (http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/26/sports/othersports/26boxing.html?ex=1062475200&en=07f958724b61a100&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE)
Typically, the Times seems to be treating this story as something of a joke, neglecting just how unbelievably popular MMA is in Japan (it's at least on the same level that football is over here), and how much money he could possibly stand to gain from a fight with Bob Sapp, who has become a virtual pop culture icon in Japan in ridiculous short order.
The latest reports are that a fight between Tyson & Sapp is not necessarily planned at this point, but I can see the two sides being persuaded (actually, it would just have to be Tyson - Sapp is most certainly a go).
Mike's essentially just doing this for a payday, but I hope the fight does go down, as it will likely increase publicity for MMA here in the States, and (hopefully) increase it's popularity here in the West. The U.S. market is one that MMA has been coveting for years now, and it's high time (IMO) that it gained a foothold here.
And while I would personally love to see Mike fight Mirko "Cro Crop" Filipovic or Wanderlei Silva (for purely sadistic reasons), I'll personally be first in line to order this PPV (if it is broadcast here on the states - if not, I'll eagerly wait for the import release).
Anyone have any thoughts on this? Would you buy a Tyson MMA PPV?
<img border="0" src="http://se7enrfnet.homestead.com/files/captainamerica.jpg" width="300" height="100">
<br>
<br>
Is the Captain a member of the proud <b>2%</b>?
This message was edited by Se7en on 8-30-03 @ 9:37 PM
Financially strapped Mike Tyson seems to be entering into a new venture - working for K-1, one of the world's premier Mixed Martial Arts organizations.
Here's a New York Times article on the story:
Tyson Fighting For K-1 (http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/26/sports/othersports/26boxing.html?ex=1062475200&en=07f958724b61a100&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE)
Typically, the Times seems to be treating this story as something of a joke, neglecting just how unbelievably popular MMA is in Japan (it's at least on the same level that football is over here), and how much money he could possibly stand to gain from a fight with Bob Sapp, who has become a virtual pop culture icon in Japan in ridiculous short order.
The latest reports are that a fight between Tyson & Sapp is not necessarily planned at this point, but I can see the two sides being persuaded (actually, it would just have to be Tyson - Sapp is most certainly a go).
Mike's essentially just doing this for a payday, but I hope the fight does go down, as it will likely increase publicity for MMA here in the States, and (hopefully) increase it's popularity here in the West. The U.S. market is one that MMA has been coveting for years now, and it's high time (IMO) that it gained a foothold here.
And while I would personally love to see Mike fight Mirko "Cro Crop" Filipovic or Wanderlei Silva (for purely sadistic reasons), I'll personally be first in line to order this PPV (if it is broadcast here on the states - if not, I'll eagerly wait for the import release).
Anyone have any thoughts on this? Would you buy a Tyson MMA PPV?
<img border="0" src="http://se7enrfnet.homestead.com/files/captainamerica.jpg" width="300" height="100">
<br>
<br>
Is the Captain a member of the proud <b>2%</b>?
This message was edited by Se7en on 8-30-03 @ 9:37 PM