Iron Mike goes soft

Suddenly Botha is OK guy

As soon as the fight was over, Hyde reverted to Jekyll.

Gone was the demon who refused to abide by civility, the one who broke his outward indifference only to use the world's worst swear words during a series of hostile prefight interviews. That ugly, almost barbaric incarnation of Mike Tyson gave way to a kinder, gentler version at the very second his Saturday night fight with Frans Botha at the MGM Grand Garden was stopped with Botha's body protruding through the ropes.

Here are two descriptive words that heretofore have never been linked to Tyson: sportsman; raconteur.

Based on his actions in the days leading up to his fight with Botha, contrasted with his behavior after his fifth-round knockout win, Tyson has become the Master of Transformation.

As Dr. Jekyll, he was cool. As Mr. Hyde, he was downright mean.

Back as Jekyll at the postfight press conference, Tyson demonstrated he's a man of wavering personalities.

For all his ambivalence toward Botha prior to the fight and for all the verbal garbage he exchanged in the ring with him, Tyson rushed to the ailing fighter's aid just as referee Richard Steele stopped the fight. He also spoke with some affection about the rugged South African afterward, which stood in complete contrast to his prefight demeanor.

"He's a brother," Tyson said of Botha, adding his two bits to what was an increasingly mutual admiration society. "What we had was a boxing match. It's not that serious."

Moments earlier, Botha had been the picture of graciousness in accepting defeat at the hands of a man he earlier had despised.

"This is such a great sport," Botha said, concluding his remarks about Tyson still being a great fighter and how everyone in the heavyweight division is happy he's back for more. "Afterward, even after a fight like this, we can all be friends."

During the fight, they exchanged a number of spontaneous comments that aren't fit for print. Botha instigated the audible assaults and said they were a ploy. For his part, Tyson seemed unaffected by the taunts and responded with more than a few of his own.

"White boy, I'm going to f- - - - - - kill you," Tyson later repeated, when asked for a sampling of the conversation.

Botha was more guarded.

"I don't really want to repeat what was being said," was his offering. "Let's just say we kept bad-mouthing each other.

"I'll tell you a couple of things I said, just trying to psyche him out. I asked him once, 'Is this all you have?' And I said, 'You'd better start fighting 'cause you're losing.' "

And Botha was right. He was winning the fight on the judges' scorecards prior to taking a picture-perfect right hand late in the fifth round that left him quivering on the floor. In a spirited fight, the underdog was manhandling the manhandler until fate -- and Tyson's venerable punching power -- intervened.

"I always thought I could take a good punch, but Mike's a great puncher," Botha said. "I never saw it coming. It was the first time I've been knocked out as a professional."

Now 39-2, Botha is in the extremely unique position of having gained more public acclaim from his two losses than he did from any of his 39 wins. He was the recipient of plaudits despite a 12th-round TKO loss to Michael Moorer in 1996, and more people were clapping for him when he left the ring Saturday than were applauding when he came in.

"One thing you can say for me is that I've never lost to a bad fighter," Botha said. "I'm going to continue fighting and maybe someday I'll get another chance like this. I'm still a young chap."

He's 30 and his handlers have already challenged the winner of the World Boxing Organization title fight between Herbie Hide and Orlin Norris, which will be held Feb. 13 in London.

For all but the man who bet $10,000 on Botha to win at the MGM sports book Saturday afternoon, the loser turned in an acceptable performance.

The winner, meanwhile, was turning heads not only with his vaunted power but by the peaceful manner in which he conducted himself after the fiery bout. While some may have initially misinterpreted his intentions, Tyson moved quickly to keep Botha from flopping completely through the ropes after being knocked out.

"It seemed like the thing to do," he said.

So did telling a little story at the postfight press conference when the subject of his new line of clothing apparel somehow came up. The apparel line, which utilizes the slogan "Be Real," was designed and is being marketed by Tyson's wife, Monica.

"My wife is the capitalist," he said. "I'm the socialist. I believe in giving it away; she believes in selling it."

He smiled and genuinely looked pleased.

The recipient of $10 million for this fight, he has what is said to be a four-fight deal with the MGM that will bring him back to Las Vegas for a bout tentatively set for April 24. The specifics have yet to be ironed out, but if the opponent is the frequently mentioned Axel Schulz, Tyson says he'll be ironed out too.

"I don't know, I guess I'll fight anyone," he said of his next challenger. When asked specifically about Schulz (who once lost to Botha), Tyson said "He wouldn't last with me. I'd knock him out."

An even better possibility than Tyson vs. Schulz however, is Tyson vs. Lou Savarese. That fight may not attract more than the 12,519 who took in the discounted fight with Botha, yet it would provide Tyson with a more marketable opponent than Schulz.

"I didn't prove anything with this fight," Tyson said, and for a change he was underselling himself. "I've got a long ways to go. I've still got to improve a lot."

Those are remarks Mr. Hyde never could have made, sentiments he never would have expressed.

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