Donald Trump is denying a report that he invited former heavyweight Mike Tyson to attend the Republican National Convention as his guest — and accused the media of concocting the story.
Trump said in a tweet:
The presence of Tyson would likely have infuriated women's groups and anti-violence campaigners since the boxer has a rape conviction and once bit off part of the ear of a competitor in the ring.
Trump's denial came after
Bloomberg reported his campaign is lining up legendary sports figures to attend the Cleveland event, including Bobby Knight, who coached Indiana University's basketball team and Mike Ditka, who led the Chicago Bears to victory after victory.
While Tyson is unlikely to appear, he has already come out for Trump — an endorsement the billionaire real-estate tycoon trumpeted by exclaiming "I love it."
In 1992, Tyson was convicted of raping Desiree Washington, an 18-year-old Miss Black America contestant, and served three years behind bars. Five years later, he stunned boxing fans by using his teeth to tear off part of Evander Holyfield's ear as the two slugged it out in a WBA title fight.
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