Clifford Etienne's manager has accused Mike Tyson of faking illness ahead of Saturday's heavyweight showdown in Memphis. Tyson pulled out of the contest on Monday claiming he was suffering from flu and a stomach illness. However, the former world champion made an amazing U-turn the following day and the contest is now back on track after a brief show of resentment from Etienne.
Les Bonano revealed: "I think it was a ploy from Tyson all along, so I told Clifford not to get involved and caught up in it. I think it was all choreographed and it worked. Tyson has always been an intimidator."
Etienne himself threatened to boycott the bout with Tyson, insisting; 'theworld does not revolve around Mike Tyson'. However, Bonano confirmed that his charge had now agreed to go ahead with the 10-round event at the Pyramid Arena. "He called me and said: 'I'm going to the gym and I'm going to fight', " added Bonano.
Etienne himself insisted: "I don't know how Mike is and I'm not concerned about how Mike is - I haven't done all this hard work for nothing. Nobody got up in the morning and run with me, nobody else got in the ring and sparred with me or watched what I've been eating and got my weight down. I did all that and I'm ready to fight."
Filed by Shane Murray
