Tyson in trouble again

LONDON, JANUARY 20: Former undisputed heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson has ran into more trouble with women's rights groups when he ...

LONDON, JANUARY 20: Former undisputed heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson has ran into more trouble with women8217;s rights groups when he reportedly called them 8220;frustrated women who want to be men.8221; He also faces a fine for jogging in Hyde Park at 3 am.

Tyson8217;s reported comments about women8217;s rights groups came when a TV documentary team asked him about the campaign brought against him by justice for women, which wants the American from Britain because of his 1992 rape conviction.

8220;They are just a bunch of frustrated women who want to be men,8221; Tyson was reported as saying. He also made a crude comment about the women8217;s husbands.

Tyson, who fights Britain8217;s Julius Francis on January 29 in Manchester, also used a derogatory term for gays to describe those people in general who criticise him.

The comments brought a strong response on Wednesday from his critics, who are angry at home secretary Jack Straw for allowing the fighter into Britain despite a rape conviction. He served three years of a six-year sentence on charges of raping a teen-age beauty contestant.

Julie Bindel, of Justice for Women, described Tyson as 8220;the scum of the earth8221;.

8220;This man has absolutely no respect for women,8221; she said. 8220;He is a misogynist of the worst kind. We would have slightly more sympathy for him if he had ever apologised to his victim or donated any of his millions to rape charities.8221;

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Jackie Ballard, a Member of Parliament, said Tyson8217;s reported comments proved that Straw8217;s decision was wrong.

8220;Tyson is an odious man who does not know how to relate to men or women without thumping them,8221; she said.

While the critics continued to vent their anger, Tyson ran into trouble with the law over his early morning jogging. For three days in a row, Tyson has gone running in Hyde Park at around 3 am to avoid the crowds of fans and media continually following him during the daytime.

Tyson is breaking the 1997 Royal Parks and Open Spaces Regulations. Entering the Parks after midnight is a criminal offence carrying a fine of 200 pounds about Rs 13,000.

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Sky Television reported that a policeman saw Tyson and his entourage in the Park but chose not to arrest him. However, he will be served with a fine, the report said.

Tyson was also at the centre of controversy over his plans to visit London8217;s ethnically-mixed district of Brixton on Friday. Former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali toured the area last year and received a hero8217;s welcome.

8220;Muhammad Ali was welcomed here as an inspiration and role model to us all,8221; said Jim Dickson, leader of Lambeth Council, which covers Brixton. 8220;Tyson is a pariah and definitely is not welcome here. He has been allowed into the country to train, fight and then leave as soon as possible. He has got no business here in Brixton.8221;