Forgiving Mike Tyson made a beeline for a Rangers strip 10 years after he was denied the chance to make a major splash inside The Blue Sea of Ibrox.
Iron Mike – who is now aiming to deck rival Jake Paul at the age of 58 – was in talks to stage the Scottish stage of his travelling boxing tour in Govan. However, then Rangers chairman Campbell Ogilvie admitted Ibrox was out the running due to the already packed schedule for Dick Advocaat’s side in 2000. Talks progressed to such an extent that promoter Frank Warren had travelled north of the border to check out Ibrox and the 50,000 arena that never was.
Tyson did fight in Scotland as he battered the overmatched Lou Savarese at Hampden in May of the same year, however, if Tyson was peeved he missed out on the full Rangers experience then didn’t show it a decade later. Tyson was buzzing to show he was a true blue during a promotional tour.
Speaking exclusively to Record Sport 12 years ago, Tyson revealed his affinity with Scotland. He said: “It’s awesome to know I’m still so highly thought of in Scotland and I feel humbled by the welcome I’m about to receive in Glasgow and Aberdeen.
“I read a lot about Scottish history and I know the story of Braveheart William Wallace, which is why I’ve asked to visit Stirling Castle during my time in the country. I’m also going to be visiting Loch Lomond because my interests now include wildlife and the environment.”