CATSKILL - Boxing trainer Kevin Rooney, a former mentor to heavyweight champ Mike Tyson, was sentenced on Tuesday to five years of probation and fined $2,295 in connection with an April 2006 arrest for felony drunken driving.

In handing down the sentence, Greene County Judge Daniel K. Lalor said he took into account that Rooney is undergoing residential treatment for alcohol abuse.

"You're going to be sentenced to a life of sobriety, and if you don't do that, then you're going to end up spending the rest of your life - maybe six months, maybe a year, maybe a year-and-a-half, maybe two years at a time - in jails or prisons because people are going to put an end to the danger and the nuisance that you cause when you're a drunk," Lalor said.

After his court appearance on Tuesday, Rooney said the residential treatment program at Hospitality House in Albany could take a year to complete. He also said it was important for Lalor to consider public safety when ordering probation.

"He's looking at the whole picture, and I understand what he's saying," Rooney said.

"I may be the oldest guy in (the program), and it's hard," he said. "It's not a joke, but I can do it. It's just not a walk in park."

More quotes available in the extended section of this post (click 'Read More' below).

Mike Tyson's appearance at the fight of Sultan Ibragimov and his cornerwork for Sultan unfortunately won't go through.
The former undisputed champion didn't get permission from Arizona authorities to travel to Atlantic City, N.J..

"I would have loved to work his corner, but they're not going to let me travel to Atlantic City for it", Tyson informed boxingtalk.

As widely reported in the media Mike Tyson shot a promotional video for a new Indian movie.
A video report which includes some glimpses of the shot footage (showing Tyson doing boxing moves in the ring) and an interview with the director can be seen here.

"It was a pleasure shooting with Mike," the movie producer Firoz Nadiadwala was quoted. "He was courteous and friendly on the sets and spoke to everyone from the assistants to the production guys with ease."

The Bollywood film is called Fool N Final and is directed by choreographer Ahmed Khan.
It has an all-star cast and is based on the British film Snatch written & directed by Guy Ritchie. Most of the film has been shot in Brazil and Dubai. The confirmed release date is June 1, 2007.

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

Source: kommersant, Associated Press
29 May 2007

The legendary heavyweight boxing champ Mike Tyson will walk Russia’s Sultan Ibragimov to the ring during his WBO belt battle with Shannon Briggs of the United States and might even be the cornerman, according to several Russian media reports. As an old friend of Ibragimov, Tyson tries not to miss matches of the Russian. The bout is slated for June 2, Atlantic City of New Jersey.

Update 30 May 2007:

Mike Tyson has applied to work the corner of heavyweight Sultan Ibragimov during his WBO title fight against Shannon Briggs on Saturday night in Atlantic City, N.J.

PHOENIX -- Mike Tyson's lawyer said the former heavyweight champion was given permission by a judge Thursday to travel outside of Arizona and California while his charges are pending.

Tyson had only been allowed to leave Arizona for addiction treatment in California.

Attorney David Chesnoff said Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Sherry Stephens has allowed Tyson to travel outside those states if he gives three days' notice and gets approval from county prosecutors.

Tyson didn't attend Thursday's hearing. Another Tyson lawyer, Thomas Marlowe, appeared instead. Another court hearing is scheduled for July 9, and trial is set for Aug. 20.

However, Chesnoff said he's not sure if the judge would allow Tyson to leave the United States. ''The agreement doesn't say anything about leaving the country,'' he said.