Mike Tyson’s fight with Clifford Etienne in Memphis on Saturday has been cast in doubt amid reports that the former world heavy weight champion has suffered a setback in his preparation. Tyson is reputed to have been suffering from diarrhoea in the build-up to his first fight since being beaten by Lennox Lewis in the same city last June.
The 36-year-old missed a scheduled flight to Memphis last night and promoterGary Shaw said: “With every day that goes by, I'm less optimistic the fight will happen.”
Tyson's preparation has also been hit by the departure of close friend and fitness trainer Jeff Fenech, who was unhappy at the fighter's lack of activity in the final weeks leading up to his comeback bout.
“I did not want to leave,” Fenech told The Sun. “I would have loved to have been there in the corner of one of the greatest fighters ever. But I had to make a stand, for myself and for him. We worked so hard early and now it has all been wasted by Mike having the last four or five days off out of seven. I don't believe he'll fight on February 22. I think we'll hear in the next couple of days the thing won't go ahead.”
Filed by Johnny Proby
