Tyson Says 1999 May Be His Last Year in the Ring

Two-time former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, acknowledging he’s thrilled to be returning to the ring Saturday night after an absence of 19 months, says he’s also thinking of retiring at the end of the year.

“I’d like to fight four times this year and then stop,” he said in Las Vegas.

Tyson, who hasn’t fought since biting both of Evander Holyfield’s ears in a June 1997, fight, will fight South African Francois Botha at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Should Tyson, a 7-1 favorite, prevail, he will probably take another tune-up match while awaiting the result of the March fight between Holyfield and Lennox Lewis for the undisputed heavyweight championship.

Tyson said it would “be beautiful” to win back the title for a third time and retire as champion.

Asked if, at 32, he didn’t feel that he still had something to give to boxing, Tyson replied, “I gave 14 years of my life to this . . . sport.”

And what would he do if he gave up boxing?

“Hang out with my kids,” Tyson said.

Of course it’s not as simple as that. With Tyson, it never is.

He is facing sentencing in Maryland Feb. 5 after pleading no contest to assault charges. That could result in a return to prison in Indiana for violating the terms of his parole after a rape conviction.