Warren: Tyson is simply Hall or nothing

FRANK WARREN - Columnist Published: Today Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/sunsport_columnists/2870447/Tysons-Hall-or-nothing.html#ixzz0gj0yQztk MIKE TYSON is set to join the International Boxing Hall of Fame. His inclusion, which will formally take place later this year, has proved a controversial one. On boxing achievements, Tyson is a cert. The youngest-ever world heavyweight champion, he tore through the division in the mid-1980s. Not only was Iron Mike the most famous name in boxing, there weren't many sportsmen anywhere bigger than him. His 'Baddest Man On The Planet' tag wasn't hyperbole. When Tyson came out of prison after his rape conviction, he became one of only a handful of men to regain the heavyweight title. Win or lose, his fights have been some of the biggest in boxing. Few will forget his two showdowns with Evander Holyfield - for good and bad reasons - while his defeat against James 'Buster' Douglas 20 years ago truly rocked the world. A cultural phenomena, Tyson, 43, has lifted the profile of the sport - both good and bad - more than almost anyone else in recent times. Yet his behaviour outside of the ring - much of it low-life - has prompted people to question whether he deserves recognition by the boxing Hall of Fame. I've had my run-ins with Mike. Sometimes he's charming, sometimes he's a nightmare. But there are a few choice characters in the Hall - Sonny Liston was no angel - and Tyson should be inaugurated. The debate over him reflects a wider one at the moment about what sportsmen get up to in their private lives and their status as role models. John Terry, Ashley Cole and Tiger Woods have hit the headlines for the wrong reasons in recent weeks after they got caught up in sex scandals. You can make a judgment on someone's sporting ability, though, without approving of their morals. Tyson isn't a great human being but at his prime he was one hell of a boxer. ........................................................................................................................... JOE CALZAGHE has given up promoting - and says it's a pain in the a***. What is a pain in the a*** is promoting a fighter when you don't know if he is going to pull out of a fight or not. .................................................................................................................................. AUDLEY HARRISON says if he beats Albert Sosnowski to become Euro heavyweight champ, he'll skip David Haye and go for the Klitschkos. He reckons Haye isn't a big enough name. What planet's he on? .................................................................................................................................. RUMOUR has it that Haroon Khan, the talented kid brother of Amir, might end up boxing for Pakistan at the 2012 Olympics. It's been alleged Haroon is unhappy with the ABA. ........................................................................................................................... KELL BROOK fights a WBO welterweight eliminator in March. Manny Pacquiao holds the belt and I'm not saying Brook is ready to step into his class. But I expect the Filipino to vacate soon and Brook can fill the void.