Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson is moving from the boxing ring into the music business.

According to the "New York Times," Tyson will be launching his own label, Tyson Records, and has already lined-up several acts, including the Baltimore group Protege, and ex-LaFace Records singer Donnie, to sign deals with the new company.

I'm into the music scene so intensely," Tyson told the "Times." "For 20 years, I've known about all these rappers; Grandmaster Flash, Grand Wizard Theodore, people a lot of rappers now aren't even aware of.

Iron" Mike also said that Tyson Records was currently in the midst of assembling its roster of performers, producers and executives, and was in negotiations with several major labels to provide distribution and marketing support for the forthcoming albums.

In a throwback to his boxing days, Tyson plans to unveil his new label at a press conference to be held at a Las Vegas casino within the next two months.

As we

previously reported (see [article id="1426873"]"L.L. And Canibus Weigh In On Lyrical Feud"[/article]), Tyson is also involved in the musical war of words between Canibus and L.L. Cool J, as the boxer contributed vocals to Canibus' "2nd Round Knockout.

Tyson is currently unable to fight in sanctioned bouts under the terms of a suspension handed down last year for biting Evander Holyfield's ears during a title fight.