This was Mike Tyson briefly out of exile come to pay his respects As the congregation left the church a

This was Mike Tyson, briefly out of exile, come to pay his respects As the congregation left the church, a stand-off developed There was Tyson, sitting by himself outside on a bench. And there were the journalists who, having sung hosannahs in Murray’s name, were back at work. Ten television cameras were pointed in Tyson’s direction from around 15 metres away. “I goddit,” one of Murray’s colleagues yelled, scrambling out of his seat when the priest called for a volunteer to assist with communion.
And then there was the bearded black man whom a former boxing writer mistook for a linebacker as he hurried inside. Murray’s funeral, at a Catholic church on Sunset Boulevard, was notable for several unrelated occurrences.

It was SRO (standing room only), as they say in the promotional game, an A-list crowd, with 500 more gathered outside Not every one remembered their manners. IF THEY’RE lucky, the best most sportswriters can hope for in their passing is a raised glass and a moment’s silence at a bar somewhere. But not Jim Murray, the star of the Los Angeles Times sports section until the night of his death last August. “I’m still learning the business, treading the boards, having fun. But maybe one day I’d like to do something more serious like a West End play Heh, heh.”Meanwhile the kids are yelling for him again It’s time to sort out Sooty.. I keep peckin’ along, duckin’ ‘n’ divin’, doing the odd job here and there. The tax is paid and there’s petrol in the car.”So the show goes on for the Ringmaster and the greasepaint is surely getting to him Inevitably, the clown now yearns to play Hamlet.

Does this suggest he might contemplate a comeback, at 37? There are older heavyweights still in there punching “Not if I can help it I’m enjoying life too much. They are still together and photographs of his three children with Santa Claus have pride of place on his dressing table. “It’s all sorted now,” is all he will say, adding that he doesn’t believe the matter has affected his popularity.The theatre programme, in chronicling his career, says that his ring record “to date” is 44 contests. The kids love him, though one mum in the audience was overheard murmuring to a friend: “I must say I went off him a bit after that business with his wife.” Earlier Bruno had made it clear that all enquiries about his private life were off-limits, declining to discuss the reported marital differences of 18 months ago which led to his wife Laura seeking a restraining order in the High Court. The Mayflower’s is a hearty, meat and potatoes panto, with the traditional look- behind-you trimmings, spiced up with the now expected modern mix of celebrity sports star, soap opera siren and Principal Boy from The Bill.All Bruno has to do is be Frank; he acts rather like he boxed, rigidly, with predictable punchlines.