Mike Tyson will need to beat Clifford Etienne in Memphis in March if he is to realise his dream of a re-match with Lennox Lewis. Tyson might have earned hundreds of millions during his ring career but he has squandered most of it and the sad truth is he desperately needs a rematch with Lennox Lewis.
Lewis will grant him his wish following the collapse of his own negotiations to meet Vitali Klitschko in April - provided Tyson beats Etienne convincingly. Tyson has not fought since he was pummelled to a comprehensive eight-round defeat by Lewis last June. Few believe he deserves another crack but money talks and he is going to get it.
Jerome Anderson, chief executive of the Sports Entertainment and Media Group which handles Lewis' business affairs, said: "Lennox has a contractual obligation to consider Mike Tyson as his June opponent and we look forward to seeing how Tyson performs in the February 22 bout against Clifford Etienne."
Tyson owes his former wife Monica Turner £4million of his future earnings under their divorce settlement, so the fight will come in handy. For Lewis it is another chance to bag some more cash rather than accept much less for more risky defences against the best of the young pretenders to his throne.
Filed by Johnny Proby
