FORT WORTH, Texas -- Texas Motor Speedway officials decided against bidding for Mike Tyson's heavyweight title fight against Lennox Lewis.

Texas governor doesn't want fight

AUSTIN -- Gov. Rick Perry on Wednesday asked the chairman of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to deny Mike Tyson's application to fight in the state. "Since Mr. Tyson has criminal charges pending against him for violence against women, recently sparked a brawl at a pre-fight news conference, has refused to submit to required drug tests in other states and has had boxing licenses revoked and refused in the past, I ask that his request to fight in Texas be denied," Perry wrote in a letter to Chairman William Fowler. In his letter, Perry said Texas supports the world's best amateur, college and professional sporting events, but said it would be best not to subject Texas families and fans to a Tyson fight given the boxer's "bad behavior and unresolved criminal charges." Calls to the Department of Licensing and Regulation were not immediately returned. -- Associated Press

"Mike Tyson makes this fight undesirable for us," TMS general manager Eddie Gossage said Monday. "We've wound up where I expected it all along. We cannot sell our values. Texas Motor Speedway is a clean-cut, family oriented venue."

Gossage confirmed last week that the track had been in discussions with Tyson adviser Shelly Finkel and Gary Shaw of Main Events, which promotes Lewis. He said he faxed a letter to both on Monday with his decision.

"I'm disappointed. It would have been a terrific venue," Shaw said. "They've chosen not to affiliate with Mike Tyson, not to not affiliate with boxing."

Finkel said he wasn't concerned about Texas Motor Speedway's decision, nor the reasoning behind it.

"That's fine, but they were the ones that called us," Finkel said. "His character hasn't changed since this started."

Tyson and Lewis were scheduled to fight April 6 in Las Vegas. But then came a melee at a news conference in New York on Jan. 22, followed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission's rejection of Tyson's license application a week later.

Shaw said that four to five states, including Texas, still "have a sincere interest" in the fight. Shaw said that he had already received a call Monday from another "huge venue in Texas" about the fight.

The Houston Astrodome, the Alamodome in San Antonio and the new American Airlines Center in Dallas would be the most likely options. Shaw refused to say to whom else he had spoken in Texas or to what other states he was referring.

Finkel said his priority was to get a license for Tyson, then worry about the venue.

Gossage said he had been told by Finkel and Shaw that the fight was Texas Motor Speedway's if he wanted it. He said the fight would have been a big moneymaker and would have drawn 20,000-65,000 spectators depending on seating configuration.

"Regardless of the money and regardless of the national and the international exposure, regardless of what some consider the upside, the downside overshadows it all," Gossage said.

A Texas lawmaker said last week that Tyson should not be given a license to fight in Texas and questioned whether the boxer would be subject to arrest in Texas. Tyson applied for a license in Texas last week.

Rep. Ray Allen, R-Grand Prairie, said Tyson, a convicted rapist, didn't register with Texas officials as a sex offender when he did some training in San Antonio last spring.

Gossage said he hadn't spoken to Allen. But Gossage said he was told by Dickie Cole, the boxing coordinator in Texas, that Tyson could receive a license to fight in the state.

State Rep. Ron Wilson, D-Houston, said Monday that he supports Tyson's efforts to get a license to fight in Texas.

"If the guy is worthy of being able to fight here in Texas and his applications meets all the tests we require, which is pretty extensive, he ought to be allowed to fight," Wilson told Houston television station KRIV-TV. "Not simply because people don't like Mike Tyson."

The Texas application will be decided by Bill Kuntz, executive director of the state Department of Licensing and Regulation. Agency spokesman Kevin Ketchum said no decision had been made Monday. Officials have said there is not timetable for ruling on Tyson's application.

The agency, responding to an open records request by the Austin American-Statesman, on Monday released Tyson's application for a boxing license. When the application asked whether Tyson had ever had a license revoked or suspended, Tyson answered yes. He referred to his June 28, 1997, fight with Evander Holyfield.

"Bit Evander," Tyson explained, referring to the episode in which he was disqualified after the third round for biting off part of Holyfield's ear.

More than 200,000 spectators will be at Texas Motor Speedway on April 7 for a NASCAR Winston Cup race. That's a day after at least half of that number will be there for a Busch race.