It has been four months since the Nevada State Athletic Commission told promoter Dan Goossen to "pack up Mike Tyson's bags and take his act on the road."

	Forget the shenanigans outside the ring, Tyson must also perform when it counts.

That statement was made by commissioner Lorenzo Fertitta in the aftermath of Tyson's late-punch no-contest with Orlin Norris. It was clear Tyson was no longer welcome in the boxing capital of the world.

So take his act on the road they did -- and apparently the act travels well. Tysonmania is running rampant in England as Iron Mike prepares for his Saturday night bout with Julius Francis in Manchester.

And after reviewing the accounts of Tyson's behavior abroad, I have only one question: When are you coming back, Mike? I never thought I would say this, but I miss the big lug. Once you convince yourself to not take him seriously, this guy is pretty freaking entertaining in and out of the ring.

I guess you really never do know what you've got until it's gone.

Tyson is the same boorish bloke he always has been in the U.S. And in some mysterious way -- tantamount to David Hasselhoff in Denmark -- Tyson has become a celebrated figure in England, even as his allure steadily dwindles stateside.

Even before he arrived in England, the 22,000-seat arena in which he likely will destroy Francis sold out in hours. Tyson once said "I could sell out Madison Square Garden masturbating." Well, that might be true, but 22,000 to watch him fight Francis? The Brits must be Tyson fanatics.

He has been mobbed everywhere he has gone, and his loose-cannon verbal volleys haven't seemed to hurt his appeal. He called a female protest group "a bunch of frustrated women who want to be men;" he described his detractors as "faggots;" he reportedly addressed a wax statue of Winston Churchill as "another damn Limey."

As far as the general public is concerned, Tyson can do no wrong across the pond. He openly defied a local politician who told him to stay out of London's Brixton section, an area with a heavy black population.

"Tyson is a pariah and definitely is not welcome here," said Jim Dickson, the leader of the Lambeth council, which covers Brixton. "He has been allowed into the country to train, fight and then leave as soon as possible. He has got no business here in Brixton."

Tyson walked through Brixton anyway and he received a hero's welcome. The frenzy got so out of control, Tyson was forced to slip inside a police station for refuge. It was like a scene from the Beatles movie "Help!"

"Why do I have to be a stranger in my own country and have to come over here to be respected?" Tyson asked after his arrival.

	“	Tyson easily could coast into retirement by fighting multimillion-dollar bouts in a different country each time. ... But what Tyson must do to make the most money is conquer the U.S. again. ”

"It's bad enough I am a n_____. Why do I have to go home and be treated like a n_____? There is a different frame of thinking [in Europe]."

How could we exist without quotes like that? It was bad enough we lost Charles Barkley and his shoot-from-the-lip commentary to retirement recently, but for this country to be without Tyson's wit, too? That's like canceling "The Simpsons" the same year "Seinfeld" signed off.

Of course, there's more to Tyson than his colorful persona, although that has been increasingly difficult to tell his past few fights. He embarrassed himself twice against Evander Holyfield, was thoroughly beaten by Frans Botha before scoring a one-punch knockout and remained a bully versus Norris.

Fighting abroad is the last chance Tyson has to rekindle his career. Even though he once was a worldwide sensation, his old promoter, Don King, took him outside the U.S. only twice. Both fights were in Tokyo, with the last being his 1990 loss to Buster Douglas.

Tyson easily could coast into retirement by fighting multimillion-dollar bouts in a different country each time. He certainly would be as huge a draw in Germany, South Africa, Mexico, Japan or several other countries as he has been in England. So many people around the world worship the Tyson legend even though they haven't had the chance to see the "Baddest Man on the Planet" in person. He even could fight a long line of bums and fans would line up at the box office without hesitation.

But what Tyson must do to make the most money -- and to resurrect his professional stature -- is conquer the U.S. again. The first step in doing that is obliterating Francis on his own turf. Never mind that Francis isn't being supported by his own countrymen; Tyson still can make a statement by winning on the road. One more commanding victory after Francis and Tyson could find himself in line for a title shot.

It's equally important Tyson fight cleanly. He needs to prove he can box without being a rogue. Referee Roy Francis (no relation to Julius) already has addressed Tyson's fouling fancy.

"If he tries it on, I don't care whether it's the first minute or the last, I'll send him packing without hesitation," Roy Francis said.

If that happens, Tyson merely will be off to the next country willing to welcome him with open arms and fists full of cash.

But boxing never will be as colorful until he brings his baggage back here.

Tim Graham is a veteran boxing writer who pens a bi-weekly column for ESPN.com.