By Mark Vester
Plenty of boxing fans in the UK were furious when former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson no-showed a sportsman's dinner in Manchester over the weekend. Fans paid over $200 dollars to attend the dinner and spend the evening with Tyson.
The Manchester Evening News reports that Tyson did not board the plane that was bound for Manchester, and his whereabouts are unknown. Organizers have tried to contact him, but say the former champ has "uncontactable."
The event was called "An Evening with Mike Tyson" and was scheduled for at Baby Grand, on Peter Street. The $200 dollar entry fee included a three-course meal, entertainment, a speech by Tyson and a photograph with him.
Organizers went to the airport to pick him up, and after there no was sign of Tyson, the airport staff confirmed that Tyson had never made it on the plane.
Event organizer Phil Yates told the Manchester News that he personally spoke to Tyson on Thursday night. Tyson claimed to Yates that he was at Los Angeles airport - preparing to board his flight. Tyson never made it on the plane and has not responded to the organizers of the show. Yates revealed that Tyson is under a valid contract with him for the missed event, and also per the contract - Tyson has obligations to attend several other events being put together by Yates.
"I even went to Manchester Airport to collect him on Friday morning. But he wasn't on the flight and I can't get hold of him by telephone. We are not sure what has happened. We'll give refunds should people require them, but Mike is contracted to us to do a few other events too - and we'll gladly give people free tickets for those," Yates said.