Memphis, TN – February 22, 2003 — In a bout aptly titled “Back to Business,” Mike Tyson reintroduced himself to the boxing world with a devastating first-round knockout over Clifford “The Black Rhino” Etienne, closing the chapter on his legendary KO reel with brutal finality. The Pyramid Arena, once the site of Tyson’s humbling loss to Lennox Lewis, became the stage for his dramatic—if fleeting—return to dominance.

Coming off the eight-round battering by Lewis, Tyson’s career was at a crossroads. Questions swirled about his motivation, conditioning, and mental readiness, particularly after he famously got a tribal face tattoo just days before the bout. His new trainer, Freddie Roach, openly expressed doubts about whether Tyson was prepared to fight. At one point, the match seemed all but scrapped, with both fighters pulling out amid confusion and uncertainty.

But unpredictability has always followed Tyson like a shadow, and true to form, he showed up in Memphis and forced the issue. Etienne, a once-promising prospect from Baton Rouge with a 24-1-1 record, had endured a career setback after being floored repeatedly by Fres Oquendo. Still, the 32-year-old had enough pop in his gloves to present a potential hazard—particularly against a seemingly undertrained Tyson.

When the bell rang, however, all speculation was obliterated in under a minute.

Tyson charged out like a man reclaiming his territory, bobbing low and unleashing thunderous swings. A brief tangle dropped both men to the canvas in an awkward fall, but the referee reset the stage. After a short exchange of missed power shots, Tyson launched a lightning-fast right hand that detonated on Etienne’s jaw. The Black Rhino hit the canvas like a felled tree, motionless as the count ticked away.

It was over at 0:49 of the first round. Tyson, ever unpredictable, helped Etienne to his feet in a rare gesture of sportsmanship. The crowd roared—not just for the knockout, but for a glimpse of the Tyson who once ruled boxing with fearsome finality.

The win marked Tyson’s 50th—and final—victory. Though his decline would soon follow, that night in Memphis proved that even in the twilight of his career, Tyson still had the firepower to end a fight in a heartbeat.