BOXING Tyson's return to ring put on hold in New Jersey

The governor won't let him fight in any state facility.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) -- Mike Tyson won't be fighting in New Jersey anytime soon. His plans to return here to fight after a 15-year absence are on hold, thanks to a powerful opponent: Gov. James E. McGreevey.
McGreevey, who says the former heavyweight champion is incapable of being a good sport, has vowed to bar him from fighting in any state facilities and is asking the state Athletic Control Board to review its decision granting the 38-year-old Tyson a license to box in New Jersey.
"He didn't ask them to rescind it, he didn't ask them to affirm it, he asked them to review it," spokesman Micah Rasmussen said.
No place to fight
Tyson apparently has no prospective venues now.
"The only places that would be big enough to hold a fight of this type would be the Meadowlands or Boardwalk Hall [in Atlantic City] and we've made it clear right now that we are not moving forward with any discussion about them," said George Zoffinger, president of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, which operates the buildings.
Traditionally, big-name boxing matches in New Jersey are sponsored by Atlantic City casinos and staged either in their ballrooms or in the 13,800-seat Boardwalk Hall.
But the biggest casino showrooms seat 5,000 or less, which is too small to support a fight with Tyson, who hasn't been in the ring here since he fought Alex Stewart in 1990.
Tyson isn't the heavyweight champion anymore and his skills have eroded badly. Still, his carnival-like appeal can sell seats.
That prompted Hazzard to issue the license Monday, but hours later McGreevey responded by saying Tyson would not be allowed to fight in state-operated buildings.
"The governor doesn't think Mr. Tyson has the temperament to engage in good sportsmanship," Rasmussen said.