Boxing: Huddersfield boxing coach Mark Reynolds to escort Mike Tyson on UK tour

Oct 29 2009 By Mel Booth

HUDDERSFIELD’S Mark Reynolds will be a minder next week – for Mike Tyson!

The 42-year-old founder and coach of Rawthorpe Amateur Boxing Club is escorting former world heavyweight champion Tyson on a promotional tour of the UK.

A trip to Doncaster is included, when Tyson – now 43 and retired from competitive boxing for four years – will be using the Rawthorpe club minibus and members of the Huddersfield club will meet him.

"It’s a massive thrill to be asked to help out and we’ll be travelling around for eight days," explained Newsome-based Reynolds.

"When you talk of someone like Mike Tyson, it’s a bit like Elvis, Michael Jackson or Mohammed Ali – almost everyone on the planet has heard of them.

"When I get back from Cyprus on Monday I’m travelling straight down south to link up with his people.

"I don’t know exactly what the itinerary is or what’s going to happen, so I’ve got suits galore, dozens of shirts and cases of stuff packed to cover for any eventuality."

Wolverhampton, Belfast and Cardiff are three of the venues for Tyson, who first won the WBC world title belt at 20 and was the subject of a highly-acclaimed documentary ‘Tyson’ which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last year.

"It’s an exciting week to look forward to," continued Reynolds, who set up the Rawthorpe club 11 years ago and who has just taken over from Barry McGuigan as president of the British Boxers Association (which helps fighters when they retire from the ring).