2005-12-15 - Mike Tyson at the end of the Sultan Ibragimov vs Lance Whitaker fight

Boris Grinberg, the manager of WBO heavyweight champion Sultan Ibragimov (22-0-1, 17KOs), informed BoxingScene that former undisputed champion Mike Tyson will work his fighter's corner on Feb. 23, when he challenges IBF heavyweight champ Wladimir Klitschko (49-3, 44KOs) in a unification bout at New York's Madison Square Garden. HBO will televise.

The former heavyweight champ passed time behind bars by reading the mobster epic "American Gangster." The meals served were a bologna 'brunch' and Sloppy Joe's for dinner. Jail officials said Tyson was held apart from the other 1,500 inmates in the open-air jail known as Tent City.

Mike Tyson is resting and spending the holiday with his family after serving the sentence, according to his lawyer, David Chesnoff.

Chesnoff said he has not spoken to Tyson since he was released from jail around 9 a.m. Wednesday morning, because he wants to let him rest.

Tyson must also serve three years' probation, perform 360 hours of community service and undergo drug testing.

The former heavyweight champion will be held in a secluded part of Tent City, apart from the 1,500 other inmates.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio said he considers Tyson to be a high-risk prisoner and that each one of his fist is a lethal weapon.

Besides the day in jail, Tyson was sentenced to three years' probation. He also must perform 360 hours of community service and undergo drug testing.

Tyson faced a maximum sentence of four years and three months in prison. Prosecutors recommended a one-year sentence, but the judge said the boxer has tried to atone for his crimes.

During a sentencing hearing Monday, Judge Helene Abrams said she was impressed with the boxer's attempts to complete his GED and how he voluntarily sought treatment for drug addiction.

"Sobriety is a lifetime job," Abrams told Tyson.

Mike Tyson first rose to fame when he was named the youngest ever World Boxing Council heavyweight boxing champion in 1986 at age 20, and went on to become the undisputed world heavyweight champion the next year, a title he held until 1990.

Tyson won praise from Maricopa County Superior Court judge Helene Abrams for his enrolment in a rehabilitation program.

"Mr Tyson I am very impressed with the letters that have been provided to me from the groups you have spoken to, members of AA,...they all state that you demonstrated true commitment to recovery. For that reason and the others probation is warranted. I am also pleased to see you working towards your GED. This is a very important milestone for you to achieve. But I am most impressed with the fact that you got help almost immediately after your arrest," Abrams told the boxer.

Tyson spoke in a barely audible whisper during the proceedings, telling officials: "I would like to apologize for my actions."

Tyson was arrested Dec. 29 in Scottsdale by a Buckeye officer working a holiday drunken-driving enforcement special operation. Tyson was driving erratically on Scottsdale Road near Drinkwater Boulevard.
At the time he acknowledged a serious substance abuse problem.

Tyson attorneys had argued for probation because he had admitted his mistakes and was trying to battle his addictions. Since his arrest, Tyson had undergone treatment at a California rehabilitation center and worked with children preaching a message of staying sober and keeping off drugs. His attorney said in court he had passed 29 straight drug tests.

"If you do good deeds and you help other people recover, alternatives to imprisonment are the better route," attorney David Chesnoff said outside the courthouse.
Tyson left the court without speaking to reporters. He will report to jail on Tuesday

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Helene Abrams handed down the sentence which includes one day of jail time that Tyson will serve tomorrow. He also is prohibited from drinking for the next three years and is to pay a $3,600 fine.