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Tuesday, February 18
 
Harding-Browning back on, most likely

Associated Press

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Former figure skater Tonya Harding's bout on the undercard of the Mike Tyson fight Saturday was revived when the former heavyweight champion agreed to show up for the main event.

"Actually, (Harding) was on her way out when we called her'' with the news that Tyson planned to fight, said Nicole Whittington, spokeswoman for the fight.

Tyson suddenly announced on Tuesday he would fight Clifford Etienne, after his camp canceled the fight 24 hours earlier -- though Etienne now says he won't fight. Tyson hasn't done much training in the past week, and missed flights to Memphis on Sunday and Monday.

Harding, 32, will have her first professional bout against 21-year-old Samantha Browning, a first-time fighter from Mantachie, Miss. Harding does have a non-professional bout on her resume, beating Paula Jones on a Fox TV's Celebrity Boxing special last year. Jones found fame accusing former President Bill Clinton of sexual misconduct.

Harding's figure skating career ended in 1994 after she was linked to an assault plot to keep rival Nancy Kerrigan out of the Olympics.

A spokesman said Browning was ``ready to go'' for the fight against Harding.




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