Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 31, 1995                   TAG: 9503310065
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CLEVELAND                                 LENGTH: Medium

A RETURN WITH A RING, AND A KING, TO IT

Mike Tyson needed only 76 seconds - about as fast as he has knocked out some opponents - to reaffirm that promoter Don King will lead his quest to regain the heavyweight championship.

``Don is the greatest promoter in the world, as we know,'' Tyson said Thursday in his first public comments since being released from prison on Saturday.

With those words, Tyson ended speculation of a rift with King. He did not take any questions after reading a brief statement.

Tyson also said close friends John Horne and Rory Holloway would co-manage him, his fights would be televised by the Showtime cable network and his bouts would be at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Tyson didn't mention a fight timetable, but the chairman of the MGM Grand expects him to fight within six months.

``I want to associate myself with the biggest and the best,'' Tyson said, ``and I look forward to working with them and seeing you soon.''

Looking trim in a black suit, Tyson began his statement to the hundreds of reporters who had gathered in Gund Arena by discussing how he spent his three years in prison on a rape conviction.

``For the past three years I've had a chance to reflect on my life and to develop my mind,'' said Tyson, 28, ``and I will continue my journey to making myself a better person so I can help others.''

The announcement certainly was welcomed by Showtime and the MGM Grand, which stand to make millions promoting Tyson's fights.

``We are extremely excited to have Mike Tyson return to boxing in Las Vegas,'' said Larry Wolf, the MGM Grand's chairman.

Wolf said the MGM Grand has a six-fight, 21/2-year deal with Tyson and ``we expect his first fight to be within six months.''

Tyson last fought on June28, 1991, when he scored a 12-round decision over Donovan ``Razor'' Ruddock. Tyson, sporting a mustache and beard, appeared smaller than the Iron Mike who terrorized the heavyweight division in the last half of the 1980s.

Showtime announced a mult-year deal for pay-per-view marketing and showing his fights during the next three years.

Tyson served three years at the Indiana Youth Center.

On Thursday, he read his statement, stumbling once over some words, his face the blank mast that has given his boxing opponents jitters. He ended his statement by saying ``May Allah bless you all. Thank you.''