On the eve of today's homecoming festivities, Mike Tyson turned down an invitation to appear at a candlelight vigil for abused black women and apologize for raping a Miss Black America contestant. The Rev. Al Sharpton, an organizer of Tyson's return after three years in prison, said the group that invited Tyson was not truly interested in giving the former heavyweight champion a second chance, and Tyson would hold his own rally.

With a thundering comeback in which he was controlled yet ornery, Riddick Bowe has suddenly unified the heavyweight title once again - unified it in the sense that just about every person in boxing knows that Bowe, right now, is the best. Technically, all Bowe did Saturday night was defend his lightly regarded World Boxing Organization crown in a total domination of his former bete noire, Jorge Luis Gonzalez, in Las Vegas, Nev.

1. (Color) Boxing trainer Silvia Torres, a former champion herself, remains in the swing of things. File Photo by Associated Press 2. (Color) Boxing trainer Silvia Torres, active in her unique career at 83, gives Latin American junior welterweight champion Leonardo 'Moro' Mas a helping hand. Photo by Associated Press 3. (Color) When her fighter enters the ring, Torres always wears this jacket with the Cuban flag and her name in sequins. Photo by Associated Press 4. As a champion, Torres posed a problem for her rivals. File Photo by Associated Press.

Riddick Bowe, cooly efficient instead of boiling mad, bolstered his claim of being the best heavyweight in the world with a devastating performance against Jorge Luis Gonzalez on Saturday night. Avenging an amateur loss to Gonzalez, Bowe battered the 6-foot-7 Cuban for five rounds and then knocked him out with a crashing right to the head at 1:50 of the sixth round to retain his WBO championship at the MGM Grand Garden.

Hardly the avuncular Uncle George who captivated the boxing world by winning a heavyweight title at age 46, George Foreman is now suing to get out of his mandated rematch with Axel Schulz, who nearly stole the crown two months ago. And besides being insulted that Schulz isn't grateful to the champion for giving the German a chance in the first place, Foreman said he wants to go out big against only one man: Mike Tyson. Tyson's forward-marching style is made to order for him, Foreman believes.

Riddick Bowe will fight unbeaten Jorge Luis Gonzalez tonight at the MGM Grand Garden at Las Vegas. And experts agree that he needs to put his words into action. "Most people know I'm the best heavyweight out there," said Bowe.

Tommy Morrison stopped Donovan "Razor" Ruddock with 5 seconds remaining in the sixth round in Kansas City, Mo., to capture the International Boxing Council's vacant heavyweight title and resurrect his flagging career. Morrison (45-2-1) appeared tired in the fourth round, but came back and knocked down Ruddock with a powerful left hook early in the sixth before finishing him off with a right-left combination. Ruddock, fighting just his second bout in two years, did not go down, but the fight was stopped.

Donovan "Razor" Ruddock, 31, looking formidable despite fighting only once in two years, weighed in at 243 pounds as he prepared for the fight that likely will determine his boxing future. Tommy Morrison, 26, who also is at the crossroads of an up-and-down career, came in at 227 pounds. Morrison will fight today in the IBC heavyweight title bout 2 inches shorter and with a reach 2 inches less than Ruddock who is 6-foot-3 with a 78-inch reach.

Sierra

Alejandro Gonzalez of Mexico, 21, knocked down Tony Green of Philadelphia twice and stopped him 31 seconds into the ninth round in defense of the WBC featherweight title at the Foxwoods Resort Casino. Another Mexican star, Miguel Angel Gonzalez, knocked down Marty Jakubowski and easily outpointed him to defend the WBC lightweight title.

Kruk

For the second time this month, Sergio Reyes, one of the world's top-ranked bantamweight boxers, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting his girlfriend. Reyes, the IBF's No. 1 contender in the 118-pound class, was arrested Saturday on suspicion of assault with bodily injury after witnesses reported he had assaulted 18-year-old Erika Patino. Reyes was released from the Tarrant County Jail after posting $1,000 bond.

Thousands of mourners crowded into a cemetery to bid farewell to Colombian boxer Jimmy Garcia, who died May 19 from injuries suffered in a fight for the WBC super featherweight title. "Jimmy! Jimmy! Jimmy!" grief stricken fans chanted in the Memory Gardens cemetery. Garcia, 23, died at Las Vegas after doctors disconnected life support systems that had kept his heart beating for 13 days, following his title challenge against Gabriel Ruelas.

His coaches say T.J. Horgan, 14, could win at nationals some day. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Forced into a slugfest he didn't want, two-time former champion Evander Holyfield took a dramatic first step back in the heavyweight division Saturday night with a unanimous 10-round decision over Ray Mercer. Holyfield survived a bad cut alongside his right eye to outpoint the game Mercer, who had called this a turning-point fight in his career.

Colombian fighter Jimmy Garcia died early Friday after doctors disconnected life support systems that had kept his heart beating for 13 days following his challenge for the WBC super featherweight title. His death was not unexpected by the doctors or by Gabriel Ruelas, the fighter whose fists ended up killing him.

Mike Tyson plans a press conference next week to announce who he will fight in his first bout since serving three years in prison on a rape conviction. Tyson and promoter Don King will announce his opponent and the date of the fight during a press conference Wednesday at the MGM Grand hotel-casino.

Ray Mercer tips the scale at 224 pounds. The heavyweight will face two-time defending champion Evander holyfield on Saturday. Photo by Associated Press

Injured boxer Jimmy Garcia's doctor held out little hope for his recovery from a brain injury suffered in a May 6 title fight with WBC super featherweight champion Gabriel Ruelas. Garcia's neurological condition has not changed since it worsened Thursday, said Dr. Albert Capanna. "If he stays the same, he's worse," Capanna said.