Tyson fined but escapes ban

Mike Tyson was fined £125,000 ($187,500) by the British Boxing Board today for his behavior after his 38-second fight with Lou Savarase but escaped a ban from fighting again in the country.

Mike Tyson was fined £125,000 ($187,500) by the British Boxing Board today for his behavior after his 38-second fight with Lou Savarase but escaped a ban from fighting again in the country.

The Board found the former undisputed world heavyweight champion guilty of misconduct during his contest against Savarese in Glasgow in June.

Tyson was not at the hearing in London but was represented by lawyers. He was charged after failing to stop throwing punches after referee John Coyle had stopped the fight. He also caught and floored Coyle with some of the blows he was aiming at Savarese.

On a second charge of using foul language after the Hampden Park contest, he was only reprimanded. He was given six weeks to pay the fine and will also bear the cost of the inquiry which came to £1,000 ($1,500).

If he refuses to pay the fine his licence will be suspended. The hearing, originally set for Aug. 9, was postponed until Tuesday at the request of Tyson's lawyers. Tyson also has been criticized for his postfight comments in which he said of IBF and WBC champion Lennox Lewis: "I'll rip his heart out and feed it to him."

"I want your heart," Tyson added in remarks directed at Lewis. "I want to eat your children." Tyson, a convicted rapist, sparked widespread protests from women's groups in Britain after he was given special dispensation to enter the country for two fights this year by Home Secretary Jack Straw.