I'm waiting for Mike Tyson to answer my call. It's 8.30am in Phoenix on Wednesday and Tom Pattie's just gone to wake him up. A muffled disturbance filters down the phone-line.

"Who?"

"Irish newspaper guy, remember?"

Huh?

"Rang yesterday."

Small rainstorm of unintelligible muttering ends with the primeval rasp of Tyson at the end of the phone. He had gone for "a nap" when we tried on Tuesday. Now it felt like we were trespassing on private time.

"Hello."

Am I ringing too early, Mike?

"Well yeah you are. C'mon, what's goin on buddy (laughing)?"

Want me to ring later?

"No, go ahead, let's get it over with my friend."

"I'm just fine, just taking it easy right now. Just enjoying myself, relaxing, travelling."

Did I hear you give speeches as you travel?

"In some places I give speeches, in other places I'm just enjoying my free time."

Former undisputed world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson will still appear at the Burlington Hotel in Dublin on Sunday, March 26 for a special "Audience with Mike Tyson" event.

To publicise the event, which is backed by Ray Fisher in association with Brian Peters Promotions, RTE commentator Jimmy Magee will host a press launch at the Burlington on Thursday afternoon.