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Money is the medicine for Tyson
21/02/2003 08:03 - (SA)
Tunicia, Mississippi - Mike Tyson proclaimed himself fit and predicted a knockout victory over Clifford Etienne on Saturday, saying the near-cancellation of their heavyweight fight was more about money than illness.
Tyson, who had reportedly been unhappy at making only $five million from the 10-round bout in nearby Memphis, had the fight to be called off Monday because he was ill, only to recover Tuesday and declare the fight on again.
"They offered to give me more money. That gets me well quick," Tyson told reporters here on Thursday. "If I don't get it, I'll get sick again."
Asked directly if he had faked the flu, the former undisputed world champion grinned and said, "You never know, do ya?"
Tyson said he did not know exactly how much more money he would receive but added, "I'm thinking about what I'm going to do with all that cash I'm going to get. You think I'm kidding but I'm serious."
Etienne and Tyson were set for weigh-ins here later on Thursday. Tyson, 36, enters the bout 49-4 with 43 knockouts. Etienne, 32, is 24-1 with one draw and 17 knockouts.
Sporting an elaborate Maori tattoo around his left eye, Tyson predicted an early stoppage, adding that he was not ill and would not be hurt by purportedly missed workouts, a supposed illness or New Zealand-inspired face decoration.
"I'm prepared. I'm ready," Tyson said. "I don't have a problem. That's what everybody was concerned about. We trained every day, boxed around, and I got better.
"We're in the hurt business. It's not going to bother me. I have taken months off and fought. I know how to fight. A week? I could take two weeks off and be ready."
As for the tattoo, Tyson said the plans for it began two years ago and that it is only a work in progress.
"I just wanted to get something on my face," Tyson said. "I didn't like the way my face was looking. It's an improvement.
"It's not finished. When I get done you can talk about my tattoos. This is nothing. It's not even halfway done."
Tyson said the design by Las Vegas artist Paradox was different and better than his original plan and that it was no big deal because "billions of people have tattoos on their faces."
Most of those people, however, are not taking their faces into the ring against a heavyweight foe who now has a lovely target of tender skin.
"It doesn't hurt that bad," Tyson said. "I have fought four or five times after getting tattoos. This tattoo doesn't hurt."
Organisers were careful to keep Tyson and Etienne separated and seated at opposite ends of the stage with no face-to-face meeting, fearing a brawl like the one Tyson started last year at a news conference with Lennox Lewis.
That melee led British champion Lewis to fight Tyson in Memphis, where Lewis stopped Tyson in the eighth round. Neither man has fought since, but Lewis is hoping Tyson will made good his prediction to spark interest in a rematch.
Tyson trainer Freddie Roach, who had worried Tyson was not ready to fight, backed off those statements.
"We're here. Mike is ready," Roach said. "We can't wait for Saturday."
Etienne, who arrived 15 minutes late and nearly backed out of the fight himself after Tyson's camp called it off, said, "I want to thank Mike Tyson for finally showing up."
Tyson advisor Shelly Finkel countered: "I hope he has the same feeling on Sunday."
Etienne had no desire to talk about Tyson's tattoos or such past ring incidents as biting Evander Holyfield's ears or trying to break Francois Botha's arm.
"I'm not worried about the history or the tattoo," Eteinne said. "That's over with. Talk about the fight. I'm looking forward to getting in there and doing my thing."
Tyson will be aided by Jeff Fenech, a former world champion from Australia who had been helping train Tyson before returning home. Fenech will return and be in Tyson's corner for the fight, Tyson said.
"He is coming back," Tyson said. "A lot of the trainers don't know me like Jeff. I'm the kind of guy that needs to be pushed."
- Sapa-AFP
- SAPA
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