GLASGOW, Scotland — Mike Tyson is in town to fight Lou Savarese Saturday night, but the former heavyweight champion reportedly already has had a fight — with promoter Frank Warren.
In a front page story Thursday, the Daily Record reported that Tyson beat up Warren and threatened to throw him out a seventh-floor window of his London Hotel suite. The two had argued over payment still owed for a diamond bracelet and watch Tyson purchased in London before he went to Manchester, England, where he stopped Julius Francis in the second round Jan. 29. Tyson believes Warren should pay him about $630,000.
The newspaper quoted an unnamed witness about the alleged attack.
Kevin Francis, the boxing writer for the Daily Star, said Wednesday that he had telephoned the promoter at his London home Tuesday night to check, and that Warren laughed and said, "It's total rubbish."
A story in Thursday's Scottish Daily Mail reported that Tyson allegedly broke the 48-year-old Warren's cheekbone, fractured three ribs and threatened to throw him through a window.
The newspaper said that representatives of Warren denied the problem.
Warren was not at the Hilton Hotel when Tyson arrived from London Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, a jeweler is going to court in an effort to force Tyson to pay the $630,000.
Lawyers for Graff Diamonds in London's Bond Street confirmed Thursday that managing director Laurence Graff had initiated court proceedings to recover the cost of items which Tyson bought in January.
In a statement issued by the law firm of Kerman and Co., Graff said:
"Tyson is saying Warren promised to pay for the jewelry, while Warren is denying this and saying Tyson is liable.
"All Graff knows is that Tyson has been in possession of the jewelry since January and that Graff has not received a penny of the $630,000 which is due.
"I understand that one of the justifications for allowing Tyson into the U.K. was the supposed commercial benefit which his presence brings. In the circumstances, I find this laughable."
Tyson postponed his trip to London from June 14 until Sunday so he could attend the funeral of a friend, Darrell Baum, who was murdered last week in Brooklyn, N.Y.
About 100 people, many of them newspaper photographers and television cameramen were outside when Tyson's limousine pulled up at his hotel Wednesday. About 700 people greeted Tyson outside his Manchester hotel, but that hotel was more accessible because it fronted the street. There is a driveway up to the Hilton.
About another 50 onlookers were in the lobby as Tyson made his way to the elevator. Several took pictures, and he stopped to pose with one man and sign autographs. He was heard to say "Thank you," before disappearing into the elevator.
Although women's groups are upset about Tyson, a convicted rapist, being allowed to fight again in Britain, no protesters greeted his arrival in Glasgow.
Meanwhile, the British Boxing Board of Control said it had granted Tyson a fighting license subject to the results of a prefight physical. That is standard procedure.
The board expressed concern about Tyson's use of an antidepressant. Tyson, however, was using the drug even before his fight against Francis. He stops using it just before he fights.
"Mike Tyson has had to comply with the same requirements as every other overseas boxer," Simon Block, the board's general secretary, said. "His case was very high profile and there were some specific reports which need to be addressed, but were satisfied."
While Tyson is not the novelty he was when he fought in England in January, 40,000 tickets have been sold for the outdoor match, which will be televised in the United States by Showtime on a delayed basis. The telecast will begin at 10 p.m. EDT.