Man bites dog is traditionally a headline grabber but if you are looking for something bigger, how about Don King mute on boxing and Mike Tyson?

Sure, the gregarious promoter out of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., is totally out of character but he doesn’t want to utter a sound that will jeopardize Tyson settleing his $100 million lawsuit against King by filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy in a U.S. court in August in New York.

When Tyson sued King in 1998. claiming he stole millions while promoting six fights between 1995 and 1997, the former two-time champion declared he would never fight for the controversial promoter again.

The former world heavyweight champion, who had a 38th birthday Wednesday, agreed, in dropping the suit, to accept $14 million from his former promoter, who is now committed to pay Tyson $8 million immediately and $3 million at the end of 2005 and 2006. However, the sometime unpredictable fighter won’t have a chance to see any of this money since it will go directly into a fund designed to accommodate Tyson’s creditors throughout the country.

Tyson’s lawyers told the bankruptcy court that after several weeks of negotiations, an agreement has been reached that all parties found acceptable including Tyson’s accelerated format to fight seven times in the next three years to reduce his mountainous debts.

Tyson, who reportedly earned $300 million that escalated after winning his first title knocking out Trevor Berbick in 1986, will literally take hs new comeback on the on the road to cut into a $40 million deficit, which includes $18 million due the Internal Revenue and $9 million he owes Monica Turner Tyson, his former wife from Washington, D.C.

When it comes to taxes, the IRS doesn’t have a monopoly such as state tax. Tennessee is looking at the biggest slice at $834,000, having hosted WBC heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis ’eight-round knockout of Tyson June 9, 2002 in Memphis.

Tyson has fought only once each in the last two years and the most recent was Feb.22, 2003 in Memphis where he chilled Clifford “Black Rhino” Etienne at 49 seconds of the first rounds.

Now that all the bankruptcy filing appears on the threshold of approval, Tyson and Freddie Roach, his trainer, returned to Phoenix, Az, to continue to prepare for his first fight in 17 months in Louisville, Ky., July 30 with Showtime televising. a 10-round main event under the banner of Straight Out Promotions at the Freedom Hall Arena.

Tyson, with a resume reading 53-4, 2 NC, 45 K0s, told the media “I’m thrilled to be back in the ring to face Danny Williams of England and this is just the beginning.”

Williams, 30, is a former British Commonwealth heavyweight champion coming in with a 31-3, 26 KOs slate.

The Brit will be taller than the 5”11’ Tyson, standing 6”3’ and coming in at 260.

The personable U.K. import, who celebrates a birthday July 13, is in his eighth season as a pro and pleased for this opportunity to fight in the United States, especially against Tyson’

“There is absolutely no pressure on me and if I can get a victory over Mike, it will change my life,” Williams added.

Roach has Tyson working well in Arizona but there is no way he would permit Mike ‘to be over confident.”

No question Williams has power in both hands, but there have been times when his jaw has shown up suspect. Last year in a tough fight for the European crown, there was a terrific exchange in the sixth round. It was all turned around when a good fighter named Sinan Siml Sam scored a TKO.”

Tyson and Roach have always been on the same page together that makes a solid combination in boxing.

Roach, who came to Las Vegas in the ‘80s from New England as a talented bantamweight, told Kevin Iole of the Las Vegas Review Journal that “Tyson at 38 isn’t nearly the physical specimen he was at 20 when he became the youngest heavyweight champion in history. However, Tyson’s power is still good enough to beat any of the four reigning champions.”

“With age, you slow down a little bit. Tyson still has all the potential, all the power and speed. He is the fastest heavyweight in the world. There is not a champion out there he can’t beat,” Roach reminded.

Tyson is looking for the mega-bucks super star, so he can start making a bold financial move in trimming a staggering debt that is almost obscene. Evander Holyfield is still around, having won a piece of the crown four times, but he is not the Real Deal that enabled Tyson to collect $30 million in 1997 ---ear bite not withstanding.

Remember, Don King isn’t promoting Tyson at this juncture but he does have three of the four heavyweights wearing belts. Though he has never brought the issue to the fore with the media, the 73-year-old ring entrepreneur left food for thought in casually declaring, ”I’d be happy to work with Mike. Anything is possible.”

In reflection, Tyson implied he wasn’t satisfied how he had managed his life but that would change, adding, ”I don’t know if I will ever fight for him again, but anything is possible.”

King’s triple includes Chris Byrd, the IBF ruler who is living in Las Vegas, a slick boxer with minimum power next up is John Ruiz who has backed into the WBA crown twice, and then comes Lamon Brewster sneaking away with the WBO diadem.

There’s nothing in that cast to indicate the eight-figure revenue Tyson desperately needs to climb out of the trenches, regardless who was promoting the show.

Now for the ace in the hole ---- Vitali Klitschko, the new WBC heavyweight king from Hamburg, Germany via the Ukraine.....Whether you buy it or not, there are many fight buffs around the globe who feel this super-educated, fist-fighter encouraged Lennox Lewis to retire early rather than give the power-punching Klitschko the return match he deserved. If Tyson stays in the sweepstakes and Vitali is still around short circuiting the likes of Corrie Sanders, it might not be such a caricature if Iron Mike and Dandy Don wind the clock a long way back

(Jack Welsh is a syndicated columnist headquartered in Las Vegas and covers boxing EXCLUSIVELY for Ringsports.com)