Tyson, who hasn't been in the gym since Wednesday, was supposed to be on an afternoon flight to Memphis. But he told manager Shelly Finkel earlier in the day that he wasn't going to be on the plane.
Tyson's promoter and adviser told the newspaper Saturday that the bout has not been canceled. Tyson's trainer Freddie Roach said Tyson is not in shape.
"(We) had been getting along so well. Everything had been great," Roach told the Review-Journal. "Then all of a sudden, everything stopped. He got the tattoo on his face and he quit coming to the gym. Then he says he doesn't want me to do the road work with him because he's running at 2 in the morning instead of 5 in the morning."
According to the report, the former heavyweight champion's behavior turned odd last week as he started the final preparations for his first fight since he was knocked out by Lennox Lewis in June. Tyson missed at least three training days last week, and had a large tattoo put on the left side of his face during that time.
Roach said the new tattoo is an "African tribal thing'' and covers a large part of Tyson's face.
Roach said he called Tyson on Saturday and Tyson was noncommittal.
"He told me he's sick and he'll call me if he needs me,'' Roach said. "I don't have a clue.''
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