Mike Tyson KOs Clifford Etienne

Photo: Tom Casino/Showtime

Bill Calogero - TheDailySports.com

23.02 - Memphis, Tennessee - Mike Tyson made it a short night by knocking out Clifford "The Black Rhino" Etienne 49 seconds into the first round last night at the Pyramid Arena, broadcast live by ShowTime Boxing.

Tyson, now 50-4-2 NC (44 KOs), came out fast and furious. He threw several punches that missed the bobbing Black Rhino until a devastating right landed squarely on his jaw, sending him down and out 49 seconds into the first round.

Tyson proved to still possess the power that he used to dominate the Heavyweight Division during his prime. When interviewed after the fight, Tyson indicated that he was not sure if he wanted to "get beat up again by Lewis" and did not think he would be ready until he fought a couple of more times. Then he said he wasn't sure he wanted to fight anymore at all. He also stated that his back was "broken".

Clifford Etienne never known to have a solid chin, drops to 24-2-1 (17 KOs).

First off, I want to begin by saying that I am a big fan of Mike Tyson. Always was and always will be. Good or bad, that's the truth. However, this fight has left several questions in my mind.

Etienne, not known for his chin, retained the services of one of the best young trainers in the business with Buddy McGirt. He has clearly helped turn around Arturo Gatti's career and was expected to help Etienne with the task of beating Iron Mike.

Saying that, what exactly was their game plan to fight Mike Tyson? Prior to the fight in an interview with ShowTime's asshole, Jim Gray, McGirt stated that they wanted to "demand respect" for the first few rounds, then get into the second part of the game plan.

Everyone on the planet knew about the "tattoo". Everyone also knew that is was not fully healed since being applied less than twelve days ago. Most boxing people also knew of his (Etienne's) questionable chin. With just these two issues, why was the apparent game plan to go out and demand respect and go toe to toe with Tyson in round one?

We all know Tyson is good for the first few rounds. After that, his chances of winning drop substantially. Why go toe to toe in round one when he (Tyson) is at his strongest?

Wouldn't it have been smarter to "box" Tyson early on? Maybe frustrate him a little? Work on that world famous tattoo with the likes of a jab or two? Why go toe to toe and work into the Tyson of today's only strength? His defensive skills have all but vanished since he has left Kevin Rooney. That is a fact.

The punch that set Etienne down and out was solid. There is certainly no doubt about that. It clearly sent him down with conviction. However, after referee Bill Clancy counted him out, he was up and smiling in his corner. He showed no effects of being hurt. He was walking around fine. He was speaking clearly. He had time to speak, hug and thank Iron Mike for the opportunity, and most importantly, the payday.

After the fight, Tyson indicated that he and Etienne were friends. He also said that it is their duty as professional boxers to fight each other to help their respective careers. He also said that Etienne and himself "needed the money", thus helping their bank accounts.

If this is the case, fighting for the sole reason of the money, it's sad that the public, both boxing fans and the general sports fan, get beat either by their cable company, by subscribing to premium channels, like ShowTime, or by purchasing a ticket to see an event like this live, for the benefit of the fighter's pocket book.

What this tells me is that Etienne believed in his heart, as did his trainer and promoter, that he had no chance of winning this fight. Why take a beating? If Tyson hurts you (sends you down) why get up for more? Stay down and collect your money.

This attitude sucks and is extremely bad for boxing. The fans in attendance did not appreciate it either. They booed and threw debris at "The Black Rhino" as he exited the ring.

As a boxing promoter, writer and most importantly, as a Boxing FAN, I too think this sucks. I am in no means suggesting that Etienne "threw" this fight, nor am I suggesting that the punch Tyson threw that sent Etienne down was not a solid one, but in MY OPINION, it appeared to me that Etienne just said, "fuck it", while flat on his back as Clancy counted him out.

Boxing Great Jack Johnson claimed after his loss to Jess Willard on April 5, 1915 that he threw the fight. His proof of it was the still shots that were taken, as well as the film, which showed him protecting his eyes from the sun as the referee counted him out. He too was up and fine after the count on that hot day in Cuba.

If you watch the tape of last nights fight, you will see that Etienne smoothly removes his mouthpiece as Clancy is counting him out. How hurt was he if he was able to do that. I recall Mike Tyson himself attempting to put his mouthpiece back in his mouth when it was only half out while down during the Buster Douglas fight. He did not have the coordination to even find his face, let alone fix his mouthpiece. He no doubt was hurt, but WAS attempting to get up and continue.

The bottom line here is that I think Etienne got rocked, went down, and decided to stay there, and collect his money, rather then take more punishment. This is not fair to the public and the true "warriors" of boxing.

Keeping in mind that Tyson weakens as his fights go on, a true warrior of the ring would have gotten up and tried to hang in there for his chance to turn the table on his foe. This was not the case last night. Again, this is my opinion only.

Tyson still punches hard and has the ability to KO any heavyweight out there. The same is true for ANY heavyweight. That is why people love the Heavyweight Division. Any Heavyweight can KO another Heavyweight at any given time. This is what makes this division so exciting.

With that said, did Etienne believe he had NO chance of stopping Mike Tyson? No chance of sending Tyson to the canvas? No chance of winning? If you think that, why fight in the first place, just for the payday?

Recently, I promoted a show in the State of Maine. Oleg Maskaev made his return to the ring against journeyman, Errol Sadikovski as the Main Event.

In that fight, Sadikovski took a light shot to his ear that sent him down. It was in no means a hard punch. Seconds later, he went down twice more, resulting in a TKO win for Maskaev halfway into the first round.

On the second and third knockdowns, the punch that was responsible for each was not seen by anyone in attendance. I personally didn't see any punch. As a matter of fact, the third knockdown came as Sadikovski threw himself to his knees. Maskaev is a hard puncher but was not able to demonstrate it to the fans in attendance. Sadikovski decided to make it a short night too.

As the Promoter, I was outraged that Sadikovski did not attempt to fight Maskaev at his fullest potential. He was, however, quick to reach his hand out for his money. I turned to the Commission for assistance.

All they would do was react to an emergency room doctor's findings at a local hospital, which said he (Sadikovski) sustained a head injury. As per that same doctor, he was issued Tylenol and was released.

The emergency room visit covered the fighter and the Commission's butts. The sad truth is the public was ripped off; as was Maskaev because he was not able to perform as a result of Sadikovski's decision to not give it his all by staying down to collect his purse an go home.

The fans in attendance booed Sadikovski as he walked away from the ring. If the commission did not insist he go to the local hospital before his purse was released, they had the van packed and were ready to drive home. Did Sadikovski give it his all?

In both of these instances, the question is: Did the fighter attempt to win the fight and perform at a professional level?

As professionals, fighters OWE it to the fans, their opponents and most importantly to themselves; to give it their all. They MUST perform at their best, at their highest level possible in ALL of their fights. Failure to do so results in all of the negativity we currently receive towards professional boxing today.

In order to maintain the integrity of professional boxing, fighters have to come to fight. They have to want to win at all costs. It's up to them to do so in order to save the face of boxing. If they don't, professional boxing will become just like professional wrestling; nothing more than a show.

The Tough-Man type fighting circuit is a poor example of boxing. The fighters usually have little or no boxing skills. Why do they do so well? Why do the fans flock to see these BS matches? The reason is simple. The fighters give it their all.

I hope Mike Tyson gets his act together for one last fight. That fight should be a rematch with Lenox Lewis. I honestly believe that if he trained hard, even bit the bullet and got back with Rooney one last time and "work" as Cus used to tell him, he could KO Lewis and regain the World Heavyweight Title. Then, retire to cap his career. He can do it. Lewis has a weak chin and if he faced a "ready" Tyson would go down.

The big question is: Can Tyson separate himself from the bottom feeders that hang all over him and seriously work one last time and get this done or will he continue to be the circus show he has become and fill everyone else's pockets until he himself is left penniless?

I am and always will be a Mike Tyson fan. I hope to see him rise above it all and become the Heavyweight Champion of the World one last time.

I also am a Boxing Fan. I hope the boxers themselves can climb into the ring and give it their all, all of the time. The future of boxing depends on it.