Tyson psychological records to be released Tuesday

LAS VEGAS - A psychiatric report says Mike Tyson has problems with depression and self-esteem, but is truly repentant for biting Evander Holyfield's ears and should be allowed to return to boxing, a source told The Associated Press.

A source with access to the report said it concludes by saying Tyson is "mentally fit to return to boxing, to comply with the rules and regulations, and to do so without repetition of the events of June 28, 1997."

The report by a team of psychiatrists casts Tyson as being uncomfortable with his superstar status and recommends that he undergo regular psychotherapy, according to the source.

Still, it says, Tyson is "highly motivated to avoid repetition" of the type of behavior that led him to bite Holyfield during their heavyweight title fight 15 months ago. It also says Tyson does not need any medication for psychological problems, the source said.

The report was scheduled to be released publicly Tuesday at 11 a.m. EDT. It was given to the Nevada Athletic Commission just minutes before a late Monday deadline.

A team of six doctors who examined Tyson last month at Massachusetts General Hospital wrote the report. The examiners included a neuropsychologist, psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, two neurologists and a doctor-lawyer.

The AP was given some details of its findings under the condition that the source not be revealed.

According to the source, the report recommends that Tyson "undergo regular psychotherapy with a goal of building trusting relationships and managing, understanding and managing his emotional responses."

But, in response to the commission's main question, it says the "risk of another major boxing offense is 'low."'

The boxer whose life has always been an open book will find his inner thoughts are now open too when the reports are released.

Tyson's attorney, Jim Jimmerson, said the reports are positive and show that Tyson is both mentally and physically able to fight. He acknowledged, though, that they contain things Tyson would rather not be seen.

"It is a hard-hitting report," Jimmerson said. "There are going to be things that talk about his innermost thoughts and innermost feelings."

Tyson issued a statement saying he didn't want to release the reports but that his main goal is getting back into the ring.

"On numerous occasions I have apologized for my actions in the ring versus Evander Holyfield," Tyson said. "I am willing to do whatever the Nevada Athletic Commission wants me to do in order to regain my license to fight."

Commissioners, who asked for the psychiatric reports after a marathon six-hour licensing hearing decided nothing last month, are scheduled to meet next Monday to decide whether to give Tyson back the license revoked for biting Holyfield.

At issue will not only be Tyson's psychological records, but questions about a traffic altercation he was involved in Aug. 31.

"It will be a very interesting hearing," predicted Marc Ratner, the commission's executive director.

Jimmerson was upbeat about the reports as he personally delivered them to the commission offices, despite having spent the last two weeks trying to keep them secret.

"He is sound mentally, he is sound physically, and he is sound neurologically," Jimmerson said.

Jimmerson said the reports answer "in the affirmative" the five questions the commissioners asked the doctors to answer during their five days of evaluating Tyson.

The major question asked by the commission was whether the doctors believe Tyson is mentally fit to compete without having another incident like his biting of Evander Holyfield's ears.

The other questions centered around Tyson's ability to handle stress and his current mental diagnosis.

The source said the report said the "risk of another major boxing offense was 'low."'

Earlier Monday, Tyson lost a fight to keep the records out of public view.

A divided Nevada Supreme Court refused to block a lower court's order that allows the documents to be made public once they are given to the athletic Commission.

Though the court rejected the motion to keep the records secret, two of the five justices questioned why all the details of Tyson's psychological tests had to be revealed, with one saying the ruling "unfairly and needlessly puts Mr. Tyson in a dilemma."

Submitting the reports Monday means Tyson will go before state boxing officials once again to try and get back the license they revoked 15 months ago when he bit Holyfield's ears during the third round of their aborted fight for the heavyweight title.

Tyson and his advisers want the hearing as soon as possible because they want Tyson to fight a comeback fight on Dec. 5. if he gets his license back.

Tyson faces trial in Montgomery County, Md., the same day the commission meets on assault charges filed by two men stemming from an Aug. 31 traffic accident in a Washington, D.C., suburb.

Tyson's attorneys have been trying to negotiate a settlement with the two men, although prosecutors in Maryland say they plan to go ahead with the case even if a settlement is reached.

Jimmerson said he believes the Maryland trial date will be vacated, and said Tyson will answer commissioners questions about the traffic altercation. Commissioners were irritated at Tyson's Sept. 19 hearing when, on the advice of attorneys, he refused to discuss the incident.

"Maryland is still an open issue," Jimmerson acknowledged. "There will be a proper response. What Mike has to say about it is still being discussed."

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