"I would like to become a better father and maybe a motivator,"
said Mike Tyson on what he'd like to do when he retires from boxing. But for
now, Tyson is focusing on Brian Nielsen. The two meet in the ring Saturday in
Copenhagen.Not many give Nielsen a chance at defeating Tyson and see this fight as somewhat of a joke. Nielsen, however, has his mind set on a different outcome. He tells us, "I am in the best shape of my life. I am going to beat Tyson. People can think what they want. I have been underestimated for 63 fights. I am used to it. Tyson has not fought in nearly one year. I do not care how long he has been training. No matter how much time he spends in the gym, it is not the same as a real fight."
And while Nielsen is going to try and take advantage of Tyson's ring inactivity, Tyson in no way is going to fall asleep on Nielsen. He is utilizing Tommy Brooks and Jay Bright as trainers and Gunner Petersen as his personal strength and conditioning coach.
"Tyson is as mean and mad as a hungry bulldog chasing a meat truck," said Brooks. "He is ready to go. Tyson is a pro and knows what he has to do. Any time you are coming off a layoff, it affects you and you have to work that much harder. That is why we came to Copenhagen early. Boxing is repetition, going over the same things over and over. Right now, Tyson is sharp as tacks. We just want to keep him that way. You are talking about one of the most recognizable guys on the planet. Tyson also is one of the hardest workers. He always puts his work in."
Tyson devotes all day to his training. Mornings and evenings he works on strength and conditioning with Petersen. During the day, he trains with Brooks and Bright.
"I work a lot with NBA players,'' said Petersen. "Tyson may not be able to run up and down the court for 48 minutes like they do, but his stamina and endurance should not be a factor."
If Tyson can't run up and down the court for 48 minutes then he is in trouble should the fight go beyond five rounds. But then again, maybe his trainers are preparing for a first-round knock out.
I'd like to see any NBA player go three rounds of boxing without collapsing or being knocked out.
"The perception in the United States is that I am a typical European
heavyweight and have fought only over-the-hill guys, or nobodies,'' said
Nielsen. "I was a bronze medallist in the 1992 Olympics and have faced as
many good opponents in the pros as most heavyweights. My plan is to box in the
beginning and take it into the later rounds. Tyson is going to come out like a
rocket ship for the first one or two rounds. That is when he is most dangerous.
Everybody knows that. So, I have to be ready. But the farther the fight goes,
the more it will work in my favor. Getting through the first few rounds is the
key."The fight will be televised on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING Saturday, Oct. 13, from Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, Denmark. In the co-feature, Britain's only undefeated world champion, Joe Calzaghe (31-0, 26 KOs), will make the ninth defense of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) super middleweight title when he takes on Will "Kid Fire" McIntyre (29-2, 13 KOs). Both bouts will be shown on SHOWTIME via same-day tape delay at 10 p.m. ET/PT. International Entertainment, in association with America Presents Boxing, LLC, will promote the fight card.
Prior to the Tyson / Nielsen card, Showtime's ShoBox: "The new Generation" boxing series will feature SuperMex Francisco Bojado and SuperStar Jeff Lacy. SuperMex Bojado faces his toughest test yet when he takes on once-beaten Eleazar Contreras for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) junior welterweight youth title in a scheduled 10-round bout. SuperStar Lacy will face Adime Bawa who boast a 10-2 record.
Both Bojado and Lacy are undefeated and have taken the boxing public by storm. Both fighters have taken on stiff competition and have not been hand fed with a golden spoon as the other Olympians have been and continue to be.
"Panchito (Bojado) and I are hungry young fighters,'' said Lacy. "I am not concerned with the fame and money aspect. I try not to think about it and stay focused on my training to be the best fighter I can be. I do not feel pressure. As long as I am conditioned, I feel ready.''
When asked how he felt about this fight being for the WBC junior welterweight youth title, Bojado had this to say. "The WBC junior welterweight youth title means a lot to me even if it is a junior title. I will be the first of the class of 2000 Olympic fighters to own a belt.''
The Main Events-promoted fight card is the fifth in a series of "ShoBox" telecasts on SHOWTIME.