Does a character as volatile and unpredictable as Tyson have a future in the ring? Send us your views

I believe that within my lifetime I will never see such an awesome fighter

Sandra Lloyd, UK

I fell in love with boxing the moment I saw a young man with so much self respect enter the ring over 15 years ago. I was only 12 years old at the time and had shown no interest in the sport. Other boxers used to treat the game like a fashion show, but Mike Tyson wore a simple pair of black shorts and boots. His boxing skills spoke for themselves. I would really like to see that side of him recaptured. I don't think banning him from the sport would help boxing at all. I believe that within my lifetime I will never see such an awesome fighter.
Sandra Lloyd, UK

Isn't it strange that there is a sport that allows one man to bludgeon another with fists, and yet to do the same anywhere outside an arena will instantly land you in jail? Boxing is pathetic, and should be banned. Tyson is disgusting, and should be locked away forever. Jack Straw is a hypocrite, and should resign for ever allowing this to happen in the first place.
Tony, UK

Anybody who understands boxing knows that the jibes boxers make towards one another are no more serious than the ones made in WWF wrestling. They are not to be taken seriously. If anybody seriously thinks Mike Tyson wants to eat children just because he made the remark, they need a lot more psychological attention than he does!
Tristan Abbott-Coates, UK/USA

My enjoyment from boxing was awoken the first time I saw Mike Tyson box. I really don't think that I will see another heavyweight in his class within my lifetime. I think we need to concentrate more on his performance within the ring than on the antics in his private life.
Sarah Clark, UK

As a woman I was never interested in boxing until Mike Tyson came on the scene

Marie, UK

The media keep saying that Mike Tyson is pitted against no hopers, how about the great British hopes - Lennox Lewis, Michael Grant or Frans Botha? If anyone is to blame for this situation, it has to be the members of the board who decide the rank of a boxer. As a woman I was never interested in boxing until Mike Tyson came on the scene and now I'm captivated by the sport.
Marie, UK

I still believe Mike Tyson has what it takes to be the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. Before he fought Julius Francis the media said it was a mismatch and their beliefs were proven. However, before he fought Lou Savarese, they said he was a true contender, but the moment Mike Tyson obliterated him, they said it was an obvious mismatch. Why don't they make their minds up? I am really looking forward to the Mike Tyson/Lennox Lewis match, as I believe it will be a true match of heavyweights. I am female boxing fan who had no interest in boxing until MIke Tyson came onto the scene.
Phil, UK

I endorse the sentiments of WJ of the Netherlands. I think Tyson is mentally unstable and quite unpredictable and should be banned from boxing
Josephine, Trinidad and Tobago

This is not about sport, this is about money.

Halldorsdottir, Iceland

The truth would be refreshing. How is this: the powers that be did not care that a convicted rapist was allowed to enter the country twice, there was too much money at stake. Now, when Tyson seems to be generating less money because he is as he is, he will be dropped like hot coal. This is not about sport, this is about money.
Halldorsdottir, Iceland

Mike Tyson is truly a hero in the boxing history. All he needs to show to this world is a little bit of maturity and concentration to protect the sanity of the game. We know, he is all through the hardships of life and it's time to prove and to take the shame off his name.
Vj Sarathy, USA

Tyson should never have been allowed to come back in the ring in the first place after that ear accident. Tyson is (making me) sick. I think he should be banned from boxing and put in a mental health hospital to make sure that one day he can function in normal society. Don King should be put in jail, or sent to Mars for promoting such idiots.
WJ, Netherlands

Why does it always take a victim to bring about change? Tyson does what he is good at - fight. Boxing itself is a savage sport, and there can never be a "good" boxer and a "bad boxer". Ban boxing totally, but if you can't then shut up and watch the madness. Why the double standards when someone loses a game?
Vinod, London, UK

A day in the life of Mike Tyson would drive anybody into insanity

David Brown, Leeds, UK

My heart goes out to Tyson. He's grown up as a child in one of the worst environments on earth and when he finally became rich and famous, he had nothing but savages as friends and partners who were blatantly using him for money. A day in the life of Mike Tyson would drive anybody into insanity.
David Brown, Leeds, UK

During the European championships, we (UK) as a country took enormous steps to stop football hooligans from crossing the frontiers to the Low Countries. However, we are quite happy to court a man who, with the exception of murder, has been found guilty of committing the most horrific crime on an individual. Has Society become so obsessed with the power of the pound or in this case the dollar? Maybe we really should have a good look at ourselves in the mirror.
David Mclaughlin, Scotland

Tyson still has the same potential that he had at 20 and still has a long way to go. All he has to look for is a better character, which seems to evade him so much.
Takura Mujokoto, Zimbabwe

Tyson should be given credit of being frank. Boxing is about inflicting pain

Ramesh, UK

I guess Tyson should be given credit of being frank. Boxing is about inflicting pain, full stop! The quicker the better. So people out there, especially those who paid to watch, they should just stop moaning. Boxing is not a sport, it should be banned!
Ramesh, UK

Tyson's a brute, a Frankenstein monster put together by shameless promoters and fed by witless ticket buyers, neither of whom will take responsibility for the thing they have made and fed.
Derek O'Brien, Northern Ireland

What Mike Tyson said was really nasty but people should also keep in mind that he is mentally ill and they should give him a break.
Mohsin Afridi, Pakistan

With luck, he'll become so unheard from that in 10 or 20 years time he'll become nothing more than a difficult Trivial Pursuit question!
Stephen Kenney, USA

No matter how hard he tries to portray a character that people like, he still goes off the rails with alarming regularity

Ian, Hong Kong

The man is unstable, of that there is no doubt. No matter how hard he tries to portray a character that people like, he still goes off the rails with alarming regularity. From the rape incident, through assaulting a fellow driver, chewing Holyfield's ear and now a desire to eat Lewis' offspring. We should be questioning whether this man belongs in society, never mind the boxing ring.
Ian, Hong Kong

Boxing is a game made for the beast, and Iron Mike Tyson seems to be the best of the beasts. He is yet to be 'humiliated' in the ring, and until this is done, Tyson's future is assured.
Bernard Iheanacho, Nigeria

He may be a winner inside the ring but anything outside the ring, he's a loser.
Ralph Dudley, Spain

Tyson is a great fighter, no doubt about that! Being a good fighter like he is, he deserves a shot at Lennox Lewis. But since he lost to Evander Holyfield who then lost all the titles to Lennox Lewis, I believe that he should beat Holyfield first before he fights Lewis.
Michael, Hong Kong

I'm surprised that Tyson has ANY fans after he 1) raped a woman and 2) bit the ear off Evander Holyfield. This sounds more like a thug than a professional boxer. However, sports is filled with volatile and unpredictable characters.
Jeff, USA

Tyson needs professional help. I truly feel sorry for him

Abdul, Canada

I think Tyson needs professional help. I truly feel sorry for him, but what he said after the fight was totally disgusting and brought shame to a sport that is already spiralling down.
Abdul , Canada

Boxing is an ugly and uncivilised "sport". Mike Tyson is ugly and uncivilised. Birds of a feather....
Eva, US

During the European championships, we (UK) as a country have taken enormous steps to stop football hooligans from crossing the frontiers to the Low Countries. However we are quite happy to court a man who with the exception of murder has been found guilty of committing the most horrific crime on an individual. Has society become so obsessed with the power of the pound or in this case the dollar?
David Mclaughlin, Scotland

I am embarrassed by your rather nasty comments after the fight about a man who has hitherto spoken about you with much respect for the great boxer you are

Joseph Munowenyu, USA

Great fight Mike. I expected no less, but I must say I am embarrassed by your rather nasty comments after the fight about a man (Lennox Lewis) who has hitherto spoken about you with much respect for the great boxer you are. Remember you are trying to rebuild a reputation and disprove your critiques.
Joseph Munowenyu, USA

Mike Tyson had a future ten years ago and now he has used it all up. If people want to spend money watching him that's their business.
Jack, UK

Maybe we should take a look at the sport and not one of the maniacs it has produced. Boxing is the only sport where your main aim is to inflict injury on your opponent. Tyson might just be the only one who speaks out on what goes on in the mind of every boxer. But having said that, such venom from a contender for a world title is to say the least sickening. I believe both Tyson and his sport need help.
Femi Awotoye, Nigeria

Tyson is sick and should be banned from the ring permanently, like he should have been when he tried to eat Evander Holyfield, never mind Lewis's kids !
Simon Bromfield, UK

Yes he does he have a future in the ring? Having bitten the ear off Holyfield and wanting to eat Lewis's children so he would make a good exhibit in the circus ring with the other wild animals.
A.Mitchell, UK

I've got no sympathy for people who paid loads of money to see the fight and then moaned about it. Everybody knew deep down that Savarese wasn't going to last long. Anyone who was expecting a long fight doesn't know their boxing. Anyone who spent �250 on it must have more money than they know what to do with.
Genie Hughes, UK

I think Mike Tyson needs to step back once in a while and actually think before he opens his mouth. There is already controversy as to whether a convicted rapist should or should not be allowed in the UK, so stupid comments like those he made to Lennox Lewis aren't going to help his career in this country.
Andy S, UK

This disgusting man and poor example for professional sport is being subsidised by the stupidity of the "public"

Dave Adams, USA

I hope the people in Scotland got their fill of Mike Tyson. This disgusting man and poor example for professional sport is being subsidised by the stupidity of the "public". Mike Tyson represents everything that is "bad" about boxing. Beyond that, his disgusting comments like "I am going to eat your children" are sickening.
Dave Adams, USA

Tyson is a dangerous animal who is of no use to anyone. He should be treated accordingly. Perhaps he could be the first man sent to Mars.
John B, UK

A product of the notorious environment that the ghetto kids in America are growing up in. Like they say, you can take the kid out of the ghetto but you can't take the ghetto out of the kid.
James Clarke, UK