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Tuesday, October 9
 
Tyson in no hurry to return to U.S.

Associated Press

COPENHAGEN, Denmark -- Mike Tyson is in no hurry to get back to the United States.

Citing tensions from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and this week's U.S. raids on Afghanistan, Tyson, a Muslim, said Tuesday that he might stay in Europe for at least a month after he fights Denmark's Brian Nielsen this weekend.

"It's just really hectic back home a little bit," the former heavyweight champion said. "I'm over here and I don't want to get caught up in the cross fire of going back home. So I'm just hanging out here for a minute.

"I might want to hang around Europe for a month or so. Just hang around, probably get a spot and go train there for the next fight, if I fight again. We'll see what happens. We'll see what happens, who knows."

Bettina Palle, who is promoting Saturday's fight at Copenhagen's Parken Stadium, said she would help Tyson stay in Denmark if that's what he wanted to do.

"It's evident that it could cause some practical problems, but we will have to solve them if Tyson and his people prefer to stay here," she told the tabloid Ekstra Bladet.

Tyson has talked infrequently with reporters since arriving, but has still managed to fill several pages daily in Copenhagen's two tabloid newspapers with outings to high-priced restaurants, a strip club, and reports of a busy nightlife.

This will be the first fight for Tyson (49-3) in almost a year since he faced Andrew Golota, with Golota quitting in the second round. Tyson's last three fights have lasted a total of just over 10 minutes.

Tyson said after the Golota fight he was retiring. And he suggested it again Tuesday.

"I still want to fight, but I don't know what I'm doing after this fight," he said.




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