Tyson Slays Black Rhino

Mike Tyson took just 49 seconds to put himself in line for another crack at the heavyweight world title by hammering Clifford Etienne in the first round of their fight last night.

But the former-undisputed champion then surprised everyone by saying he wasn't interested in an immediate rematch with Lennox Lewis. Instead, he insisted, he wanted more fights and time to get his career and life together.

"I'm more confident now then I was last year," Tyson said. "But I'm not interested in getting beat up again, I need two or three more fights.

"I'm going back to the gym next week and try to get my life together. Real fighters need to go more rounds, knockouts are exciting but I need more rounds. If I want to beat Lennox Lewis I need to be more active.

"I'm hungry, but hungry isn't enough to beat consummate professionals," he added. "And I've got issues I've got to clean up. I'm in pain.

"Boxing is cool but I have some, serious, serious demons I'm fighting."

Tyson's first fight since his eighth round defeat to Lewis at the same arena last June started with Etienne, known as the Black Rhino, charging towards him.

The pair wrestled one another to the floor, and when they got up, Etienne was caught by a quick Tyson right hand.

Etienne's legs buckled under him and he never looked likely to beat the count, taking his mouthguard out just moments after hitting the canvas.

Tyson, who did not train for a week threatening to call off the fight claiming he had the flu looked sharp and focused needing just 49 seconds to finish the "Black Rhino" with a ferocious right to remain unbeaten in non-title bouts. As Etienne (24-2-1) lay crumpled on the canvas, Tyson (50-4-2) raised his hands in victory then helped his opponent to his feet.

"I'm just happy to be back in business," Tyson added, after registering the sixth fastest knockout of his career. "I hit him with the left to set him up, then kept my hands up looking for an opening and I got it.

"I wasn't ready for this fight but I had obligations. He needed the money and I needed the money. He's a good man."

It was a far different outcome for Tyson than his last appearance at the Pyramid Arena last June, when he suffered the worst beating of his professional career pummelled and humbled in eight rounds by Lewis in what was the richest bout in boxing history.

"I'm OK he just caught me with a good punch," Etienne said, and gave words of encouragement to his opponent after the bout.

"I just told Mike to stop screwing around and fight... if he keeps working he can be champion again," Etienne added.