Tyson-Etienne bout in jeopardy
Monday, Feb. 17, 2003 | 10:14 a.m.
Mike Tyson failed to board his scheduled flight from Las Vegas to Memphis on Sunday, adding to the speculation that his Saturday fight with Cliff Etienne is in jeopardy.
Complaining of a vague illness and continuing the hermit-like existence he has led for the past week, Tyson stayed out of the public eye over the weekend as his handlers groped for remedies.
Lead trainer Freddie Roach reiterated his displeasure with Tyson and assistant trainer Jeff Fenech left Las Vegas for his home in Australia. Roach has said that he does not think Tyson is fit to fight this week in Tennessee.
In seclusion after obtaining a tattoo that allegedly covers the left side of his face, Tyson is undercutting the plans that his manager, Shelly Finkel, has laid out for him. Tyson needs only to defeat Etienne to likely advance to a June 21 rematch with World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis in Las Vegas.
"I'm not as optimistic as I was," Finkel said of trying to get Tyson to follow his itinerary. "This fight may not be happening."
Withdrawing from scheduled fights is nothing new for Tyson, and if the bout with Etienne does not go forward it will be the 12th time in his career he has caused a postponement.
Glib and seemingly carefree only two weeks ago, Tyson began skipping 5 a.m. running and 2 p.m. training sessions with Roach last week. "I don't have a clue," Roach said, when asked of Tyson's whereabouts.
But Tyson did, reportedly, consult with a physician last Friday and secondhand accounts indicate he was bothered by either the flu or bronchitis.
Finkel visited Las Vegas from New York to check on his client's status Saturday and Sunday but came away uncertain as to how this episode would play out.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Tiger Woods allegedly linked to LV nightclub exec
- 6 charged in Metro officer’s death appear in NLV court
- Reports: Mayweather Jr. has agreed to fight Pacquiao
- Home prices cut in half in 12 valley ZIP codes over year
- Report: Investors buying up Las Vegas foreclosure homes
- No. 24 UNLV gutsy in 74-72 victory at Arizona
- M Resort notes improved business in recent months
- CityCenter unveils Crystals retail district
- Vdara exec predicts strong sales
- Las Vegas Sands analysts see signs of improvement
Blogs
Elsewhere
UNLV in at No. 11 in SI's college hoops power rankings
Top Chef: Las Vegas
Top Chef Episode 13: A few good chefs
Gray Matter
Fight weekend in Las Vegas and Thanksgiving (1 Comment)
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Consultant who knocked off Tom Daschle would love for Lowden to knock off Reid (9 Comments)
Gibbons: Timeline shows lawmakers (especially Marcus Conklin) at fault in unemployment insurance fiasco
The Kats Report
Noteworthy: More from the Trop, Cher changes, Newton on 'CBS Sunday Morning' (2 Comments)
TUF Heavyweights
Marathon season finale (1 Comment)
Calendar »
- 4 Fri
- 5 Sat
- 6 Sun
- 7 Mon
- 8 Tue
-
Ray Price at Boulder Station
Boulder Station Hotel and Casino | 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
-
Clay Walker at The Golden Nugget
Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino
-
Gloriana at LAX
LAX Nightclub | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Brooks & Dunn at the Hilton
Las Vegas Hilton
-
Bill Engvall at the Treasure Island Theatre
Treasure Island Theatre
-
Ron White performs at the Mirage
Terry Fator Theatre
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati










