Mike Tyson's arrival in England has caused quite a stir since he arrived recently.

But there is one man the former world heavyweight champion can rely on to stand his corner.

Somebody prepared to defend Tyson even against his conviction for rape and the famous occasion when he took a chunk out of the ear of Evander Holyfield.

Chris Eubank has been a good friend of Tyson for many years.

They first met in New York. But the extraordinary relationship between the eccentric ex-world champ from Hove and the savage ring warrior from the States dates back to a secret visit by Tyson to Britain in April 1991.

They spent the afternoon together, hours before Eubank went into the ring at London's Olympia to make a successful defence of his WBO middleweight title against Gary Stretch.

Tyson wished Eubank luck and offered him a tactical tip. Stretch was a southpaw, so Tyson told him to work against his unorthodox opponent with a left hook.

Their friendship blossomed a couple of years later after Tyson had been convicted of rape. Eubank travelled to Indiana to visit him in jail.

The pair spent more than two hours in deep conversation. Eubank said: "I went there to lift his morale, but I found out it doesn't need lifting.

"He was clear, focused, educated, informed and knowledgable. A great injustice has been done to the man in accordance with what he has achieved in 26 years, yet he shows nothing but humility.

"We have built up a rapport and we talked about anything and everything. He knows all about me and the work I do with youngsters, my Harley Davison and my riding attire.

"Being with him was like being in the presence of a king."

Tyson was intrigued by Eubank. John Solberg, a representative of his then manager Don King, revealed: "Mike said it was the most interesting two hours and 20 minutes he's had in a long time.

"I was told Mike couldn't get a word in edgeways. He was just fascinated by the guy. He dresses the way Mike did and was really dapper and charming.

"There were some common bonds. Eubank lived in New York for a while and I am sure they had plenty of street talk to discuss."Eubank's boxing career was at its hectic peak. He had fought five times in 15 months after a break from action following his tragic bout against Michael Watson, which left his opponent disabled. Tyson though was never far from his thoughts. Shortly after a draw in a return clash against his arch-rival Nigel Benn, Eubank flew out to visit him in prison again.

"I am going out of respect," he explained. "He is a good man and he has been wrongfully incarcerated. Mike has been made an outcast and vilified for no justifiable reason. He has been convicted of a rape he didn't do."

Eubank's support of Tyson has been unrelenting. He described the ear-biting incident with Holyfield as the best thing that had happened to boxing for a decade and welcomed his friend back to the sport when the Nevada authorities returned his licence 15 months ago.

Eubank said: "Justice prevailed. I am very happy he's back. Mike had an excrutiatingly painful long wait.

"It is quite obvious that Mike has fully repented. He was dignified and remorseful at all of the hearings and the Board could not ignore the weight of testimony in his favour.

"Muhammad Ali and Magic Johnson would not have testified on his behalf unless they believed he deserved another chance.

"Biting the ear of Evander Holyfield harmed himself, not boxing. It's the best thing that's happened to boxing in the last ten years.

"Tyson has got the courage to disregard the rules and that's what makes him the greatest gladiator. That's good TV."

Former trainer Ronnie Davies recalls how Eubank would fly to the States at short notice to visit Tyson when he was in prison.

"He would just say I'm off to see Tyson and that was it, he'd be gone," said Davies. "He never spoke much about him to me, but he said he was a really nice fella.

"I was never a great fan of Tyson myself, but I think they struck up a good friendship."

Tyson has turned London's Grosvenor House hotel into his training camp for his fight against British champion Julius Francis in Manchester on Saturday.

The Grosvenor is one of Eubank's favourite hotels. He was a regular guest there when he was boxing.

That is not the only coincidence. Roy Francis, the referee for Tyson's British debut, was also the man in charge of Eubank's ill-fated fight against Watson.

Eubank is refusing to speak about his relationship with Tyson. But when 'Iron Mike' looks over the ropes of the Manchester ring he will see a friendly face.

A spokeswoman for Eubank revealed: "He may see Mike before the fight, but he hasn't made a decision. Obviously Mike will be concentrating on the fight and won't be seeing anybody socially."

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