Lock up your daughters
Sir: As an American boxing enthusiast I must take issue with the claim of Robert Philip (`Get out of jail free: to make a bil- lion', 18 March) that Mike Tyson 'remains the undisputed People's Champion, the natural heir in a noble pugilistic line stretching . . . back to the great prize- fighters of old'.
Not so. It is George Foreman who wears the linear crown that graced the brow of John L. Sullivan and his successors. Fore- man established his claim by decisively knocking out the fighter (Moorer) who decisioned the fighter (Holyfield) who flat- tened the fighter (Douglas) who put Tyson on Queer Street, Tokyo. Lest people for- get: Tyson was a former champion when he went into the slammer.
Perhaps the most disturbing part of Mr Philip's article concerns not the perpetual malaise of professional boxing, but rather the hypocrisy of our contemptible Ameri- can justice system. How incredible that a convicted felon could admit to the press that he 'hates the world ... I hate every- body . . . I just hate everybody' — and then walk free halfway through a sentence for violent rape!
Rehabilitated? Gentlemen, do not con- cern yourself with the health and safety of `human punch-bag' Frank Bruno — lock up your daughters instead.
Jerry Brown
Garfield House, Cincinnati USA
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