Businessman eyes hosting Tyson-Lewis bout here

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Few would ever have thought the words "Indonesia" and "Mike Tyson" would ever have been mentioned in the same breath, but if a local entrepreneur has his way the capital could be the venue for the Tyson-Lennox Lewis fight.

Businessman Ron Muller, known among other things for his Putt- Putt Golf and Games center here, is bidding to bring the heavyweight championship fight between the two titans to Jakarta.

Muller told journalists here on Wednesday that he has written to both Lewis and Tyson's management.

"When I learned Lebanon and the Philippines had expressed their hopes (of hosting the fight), it crossed my mind, why not Indonesia?" the 48-year-old optimistically remarked.

Without revealing who his financial backers were, Muller, who also owns several restaurants, claimed that he had obtained sponsorship from "four multinational companies" to put up some of the US$150 million needed to host the event.

So far there has been no response from either Tyson's or Lewis' camp.

Despite the stiff competition with other international bidders, including Johannesburg and Copenhagen, Muller remained optimistic despite conceding that he had little experience as a boxing promoter.

It has been three decades since Indonesia hosted a marquee heavyweight bout, the last being in 1972 when Muhammad Ali faced Rudy Lubbers of the Netherlands in an exhibition fight.

The Tyson-Lewis fixture was to have been staged in Las Vegas on April 6, but has been thrown into limbo following an incident during a pre-fight conference in which the two camps were involved a brawl.

Muller was fully aware that some may scoff at his plan, but nevertheless remained optimistic.

"People have never labeled me as a day-dreamer," he remarked.

Who knows, some dreams do come true.