Casinos, cable companies spar over double date

LAS VEGAS -- No one has blinked yet in the heavyweight battle pitting casino giants Caesars Palace and the MGM Grand, and sports cable networks HBO and Showtime over a coveted Nov. 4 fight date

For the moment, Caesars Palace plans to stage Riddick Bowe-Evander Holyfield III that night. Their two previous encounters were both highly successful -- artistically and

financially.

Less than a mile a mile down The Strip, The Mirage has scheduled former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in his second comeback bout against a yet unnamed opponent. Buster Mathis Jr. is a potential opponent.

Both sides have refused to change the Nov. 4 date to avoid a costly conflict.