Former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson traveled to Chechnya on Thursday to open a Russian national boxing tournament and said he had prayed for the war, which has been raging in the republic since 1999, to end.
"I am glad that I am in the Chechen republic that I have read and heard so much about, and am glad that I am among ******s," Tyson said, opening the event in Chechnya's second largest town of Gudermes.
Tyson was a guest of Ramzan Kadyrov, the republic's powerful first deputy prime minister, who is a boxing enthusiast.
"We have seen on television an unfair war being waged in the Chechen republic for a long time. We in America prayed for it to end," Tyson said.
Channel One television showed Tyson wearing a T-shirt and walking in a sports stadium under sunny skies to applause and cheers from a young crowd. Tyson, apparently moved by the reception, told the crowd, "Salaam Aleikum," the channel's news anchor said. The four-day tournament is being held in memory of Ramzan Kadyrov's father, the late Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov, who was assassinated in May 2004.
Ramzan Kadyrov said he had invited Tyson in order to create a holiday for young people and show that peace was returning to Chechnya, Interfax reported.
Kadyrov called Tyson by his ****** name, Malik Abdul Aziz, Interfax reported. In Arabic, Malik means "king" and Abdul Aziz means "servant of the mighty".
Tyson spent several days in Moscow last week and appeared on a talk show as part of a tour that included stopovers in Turkey and Ukraine.
Mike Tyson left Chechnya Friday and headed for the neighboring Caucasian Republic of Daghestan, the Chechen president's spokesman said.
It has to be Holyfield the only thing I give Lewis is he came back well from knockout defeats. But Holyfield man he gave us some exciting fights bared his soul Lewis never did. As for Tyson he was special only for a couple of years losing to Mcbride is the biggest embrassment for any world heavyweight champion christ Leon Spinks at his worst would have beaten Mcbride
Mike Tyson was the best ever in his prime have you seen his fights on espn. That brought back memories of how good the Young Mike tyson was very powerful and quick for a heavyweight. The man was blessed with these skills and man who recognize them and help bring them out forgot his name. It all demenish when Don King got to him and the **** charge
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