Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson has taken another big step on the comeback trail with a punishing technical knockout of Danish boxer Brian Nielsen.
Brian Nielsen took six rounds of steady beating from "Iron Mike" Tyson and kept coming back for more as 47,000 hometown fans cheered him on. But Nielsen had to give up in the seventh when his left eye swelled up so much he was no longer able to see the punches coming.
For Tyson, it was his first fight in more than a year, and the longest in almost five years. Afterward, he credited Nielsen with being a much tougher opponent than he had expected.
"I was rusty," Tyson said. " I have to take my hat off to Brian. I had no idea he was that tough of a fighter. I went in for an easy night, and I was surprised."
Tyson said he wants to fight again soon, because at 35 years old, time is running out, and he must continue to improve if he's going to realize his dream of winning back the heavyweight championship.
"Ifeel I need to train a little harder to fight for the championship. And two more fights I'll probably be ready," he said.
Tyson said he hopes to fight another top ten contender in December to get himself ready for a shot at the championship sometime next year.