Tyson: Settle Traffic Dispute

(CBS Sportsline) 
Mike Tyson's handlers want to clear a major obstacle toward regaining a license for the former heavyweight champion -- settlement with two men who accuse Tyson of assault following a traffic accident.

The Nevada Athletic Commission will rule on Tyson's effort to return to the ring, and on Wednesday waited for reports from doctors who examined Tyson at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston last week.

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The reports were to have been submitted by Monday. When they weren't, the commission postponed Saturday's licensing hearing. The commission said a date for the new hearing probably won't be determined until Thursday.

The attempt to settle comes after two Nevada boxing commissioners said they want to know what happened in Maryland before they vote on giving Tyson a license.

"Hopefully, this will all be resolved before the hearing," Tyson adviser Jeff Wald said. "We're going to try to deal with it before then."

Tyson refused to answer questions about the matter at his Sept. 19 hearing before the Nevada commission.

But

Mike Tyson's faith will have to see him through recent troubles. (AP)

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with commissioners now on the record saying they want answers before giving Tyson a new license, the boxer's lawyers have begun negotiations on a settlement.

Richard Hardick, 50, says Tyson kicked him in the groin after Hardick's car rear-ended a Mercedes driven by Tyson's wife, Monica, Aug. 31 in a Maryland suburb. Hardick and Abmielec Saucedo, 62, who said Tyson punched him in the face, have filed criminal complaints.

Calls to both men and their lawyers Wednesday were not returned, but Tyson's lawyers confirmed they want to settle. Wald declined to discuss the negotiations.

Wald said clearing up this dispute means more to Tyson than just a return of the license he lost for biting Evander Holyfield's ears last year.

Tyso is still on probation from his rape conviction in Indiana and could conceivably be returned to prison if convicted of another crime.

"The impact on Mike's life if there were charges in this incident far exceeds his boxing license," Wald said. "It comes to the matter of his freedom."

Wald said Tyson would not give up his right to presumed innocence by talking about the incident before the commission.

Others close to Tyson, who asked not to be identified, said any settlement would not be especially lucrative for the two men, even if they believe they have leverage over Tyson because of the pending commission vote.

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