Mike Tyson knocked out a frightened Clifford Etienne in 49 seconds, but nobody is fooled.
Tyson, whose best fights are behind him, is capable of hurting only cowards, stiffs and females. Some bookmakers would rather not even book his fights.
"I really wish he would just retire so we wouldn't have to see him anymore," said Bob Scucci, race and sports book director at the Stardust.
Yes, Tyson bouts draw betting action. But often the aggravations and controversies aren't worth the hassles.
"I don't like booking Tyson fights ever since he bit (Evander) Holyfield's ear," Scucci said. "Every time there's a no-contest or a postponement we have to refund the money.
"These are the types of things you don't need in a sports book when you're dealing with the public and bettors. It's not worth it. It's not like we're making so much money off his fights that it's worth it."
The Stardust opened Tyson 7/1 against Etienne. Almost all the money was on Etienne until about one hour prior to the opening bell. Then 'wise' guy play showed up, knocking the final odds down to 4/1.
During the week of the fight, Etienne's trainer told a ringside observer his boxer had no chance because he was scared of Tyson. You just wonder how many seconds it would have taken Tyson to dispose of Etienne if Tyson didn't get a recent facial tattoo.
"The 'won't go' was one of the easiest bets I've ever seen," said veteran boxing handicapper Dave Cokin.
Just because it was Tyson, though, the fight got action.
"We get handle on his fights because they make it such a media event," Scucci said. "People who do spring for the pay-per-view, or watch it at some venue, want action on it."
The betting pattern often repeats itself.
"Ninety percent of the public is going to take a shot on a big underdog because they can put up short money and get long odds," Scucci said. "Then all the 'wise' guys are going to see a short price and lay it. So the book makes a very small amount of money.
"It's not like years ago when the casinos would do very well by holding the fight, having a lot of people in town gambling in the pits and slots and everything else. It's not like that anymore."
Tyson had a great deal to do with that, too, because his fights sometimes bring a certain criminal element. Las Vegas hotel operators still haven't forgotten the commotion caused inside the MGM Grand following a 1997 Tyson fight.
People said they heard gunshots fired, and more than 200,000 in chips and cash were stolen during the ensuing melee when people tried to flee the scene. The casino actually had to close for several hours. It takes something really catastrophic to get a Vegas casino closed even for a minute.
The 36-year-old Tyson keeps surviving, picking up a quick $5 million here and there for infrequent fights. Beating Etienne, who insults rhinoceros everywhere by being nicknamed 'The Black Rhino,' doesn't change anything about Tyson.
"I don't think it changed anybody's opinion," Cokin said. "People who still think Tyson has talent will back him, and those people with brains won't."
That is, unless he's fighting somebody like Etienne
Tyson, whose best fights are behind him, is capable of hurting only cowards, stiffs and females. Some bookmakers would rather not even book his fights.
"I really wish he would just retire so we wouldn't have to see him anymore," said Bob Scucci, race and sports book director at the Stardust.
Yes, Tyson bouts draw betting action. But often the aggravations and controversies aren't worth the hassles.
"I don't like booking Tyson fights ever since he bit (Evander) Holyfield's ear," Scucci said. "Every time there's a no-contest or a postponement we have to refund the money.
"These are the types of things you don't need in a sports book when you're dealing with the public and bettors. It's not worth it. It's not like we're making so much money off his fights that it's worth it."
The Stardust opened Tyson 7/1 against Etienne. Almost all the money was on Etienne until about one hour prior to the opening bell. Then 'wise' guy play showed up, knocking the final odds down to 4/1.
During the week of the fight, Etienne's trainer told a ringside observer his boxer had no chance because he was scared of Tyson. You just wonder how many seconds it would have taken Tyson to dispose of Etienne if Tyson didn't get a recent facial tattoo.
"The 'won't go' was one of the easiest bets I've ever seen," said veteran boxing handicapper Dave Cokin.
Just because it was Tyson, though, the fight got action.
"We get handle on his fights because they make it such a media event," Scucci said. "People who do spring for the pay-per-view, or watch it at some venue, want action on it."
The betting pattern often repeats itself.
"Ninety percent of the public is going to take a shot on a big underdog because they can put up short money and get long odds," Scucci said. "Then all the 'wise' guys are going to see a short price and lay it. So the book makes a very small amount of money.
"It's not like years ago when the casinos would do very well by holding the fight, having a lot of people in town gambling in the pits and slots and everything else. It's not like that anymore."
Tyson had a great deal to do with that, too, because his fights sometimes bring a certain criminal element. Las Vegas hotel operators still haven't forgotten the commotion caused inside the MGM Grand following a 1997 Tyson fight.
People said they heard gunshots fired, and more than 200,000 in chips and cash were stolen during the ensuing melee when people tried to flee the scene. The casino actually had to close for several hours. It takes something really catastrophic to get a Vegas casino closed even for a minute.
The 36-year-old Tyson keeps surviving, picking up a quick $5 million here and there for infrequent fights. Beating Etienne, who insults rhinoceros everywhere by being nicknamed 'The Black Rhino,' doesn't change anything about Tyson.
"I don't think it changed anybody's opinion," Cokin said. "People who still think Tyson has talent will back him, and those people with brains won't."
That is, unless he's fighting somebody like Etienne
