A boxing show headed by convicted rapist Mike Tyson has been scrapped after The Argus questioned the convicted rapist's visit to Brighton and Hove.

Simon Burgess, the new leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, announced the event would be called off just hours after he was put on the ropes for saying he would not ask organisers to cancel.

He made the final decision to pull the plug on the show at the council-run Brighton Centre after talks with council chief executive Alan McCarthy last night.

Cancelling the event was a dramatic change of heart after his comments earlier in the day had sparked accusations from women's groups that he was sending out a message rape was acceptable by appearing to back Tyson.

Coun Burgess, who has held the post for a week, called on Tyson, 39, to donate proceeds from the amateur boxing show to women's refuges.

But he stopped short of asking organisers to cancel the boxing show or demand Tyson's invite was retracted despite calls from fellow and opposition councillors.

Instead, he sparked outrage by saying: "Tyson has done a lot of good work with deprived communities over recent years. He can make a real difference here in our city if he tells boys and men that violence outside the ring is wrong, and that total respect for women is a non-negotiable part of being a real sportsman. If he does that then his visit to our city will not have been entirely negative."

His words angered campaigners who had told The Argus a day earlier how boxing champ Tyson was a poor role model for young men, given that he was sentenced to six years for rape in 1992.

Women's groups pointed to the fact Tyson had shown no remorse since his conviction and in 2003 was reported as saying he hated his victim so much that he now wanted to rape her, and her mother.

However, shortly before 7pm yesterday, Coun Burgess said he had discovered the booking had not been confirmed by the promoter. The council could therefore call off the event without being hit by costs for cancelling.

The Argus first reported on Saturday that Tyson would be awarding trophies at an amateur boxing gala at the Brighton Centre next month.

Coun Burgess said that Tyson's name had not been mentioned when the booking was first made.

He said: "If someone had approached and said they wanted to book the space for Mike Tyson, I would have said it should not be booked."

When campaigners learned of Tyson's appearance, they demanded the council call off the event.

On hearing of last night's cancellation Councillor Craig Turton, a leading Labour spokesman, said: "Alarm bells should have rung when the name Mike Tyson came up. I am very pleased that we have taken this action.

"In terms of leadership issues, I think Simon Burgess has flown through with flying colours."

Jean Calder, former director of the Women's Refuge Project, said: "I am delighted the council is going to stop this event, though it does appear to have been achieved by administrative sleight of hand rather than conviction"

Event organiser Scott Welch, Hove boxing coach and Tyson's security guard, was disgusted by the decision. He said: "The council hasn't informed us of this cancellation and it has been booked in good faith.

"As far as we're concerned, the event is still on because we've heard nothing to the contrary."