Tyson in 49 seconds

Picture courtesy of Showtime - America's #1 Boxing network

Memphis , Tennesse

Clifford Etienne (24-2-1, 17 KO's) barely walked into the ring before he found himself flat on his back from a

straight right hand from Mike Tyson (50-4-2, 43 KO's). 49 seconds into the first round and the fight was over.

Etienne was Knocked Out. The old Tyson was back...or was he?

Can you really tell in 49 seconds?

It looked like Etienne was dumb enough to punch with a puncher in the opening round and paid for it. So

much for learning from the fighters who beat Tyson.

After the fight, Jim Grey of Showtime asked Tyson how he felt and what was next for him. Tyson stated that

he is not ready to fight Lennox Lewis in his next fight.  Tyson said "maybe two more fights then Lewis."

Tyson then responded with comments like "he doesn't know if he wants to fight again" and "that he needs to

get his life together." But the biggest surprise Tyson laid on the interviewer was that "his back was broken."

Yes, his back was broken.

He explained that he was doing his 2500 daily sit-ups and one day he couldn't move. He went to the doctor

and the doctor told him that his back was broken. As Tyson explained - "a spinal" injury. He suffered it from

a motorcycle accident. To what degree his back is injured is unclear but obviously the interviewer and the

announcers didn't believe his back was broken.

Can this get any stranger?

The bottom line is that Tyson looked focused and that perhaps getting his ass kicked by Lewis was a wake

up call.

Stay Tuned. 

SN

(2/22/03)