Tyson has rebuilt look for fight

COPENHAGEN, Denmark -- Mike Tyson says he's as sharp and as strong as he's been in six years. The big unknown is how he will fare after so much time outside the ring.

The former undisputed heavyweight champion has fought only 26 1/2 minutes (fewer than nine full rounds) since 1999.

Today, he faces journeyman Brian Nielsen -- a 36-year-old Dane who won a bronze medal at the 1992 Olympics -- in a 10-round bout. The fight will be seen on Showtime on tape delay, with the telecast to start at 10 p.m. EDT.

Although dubbed the "Danish Pastry" for his soft-looking body, the 6-foot-2, 259 3/4-pound Nielsen (62-1, 43 KOs) has been on the canvas only once in his professional and amateur career.

"I don't look for the fight to go the distance," said Tyson's trainer, Tommy Brooks. "We're prepared to go 10 rounds, but Brian has never been in with a guy who can punch as hard and as fast as Mike Tyson."

Today's fight is supposed to offer up the new Tyson.

He weighed in at 239 pounds Thursday, 15 1/4 heavier than he's ever been for a bout -- and about 20 pounds above his average weight when he dominated heavyweights in the late 1980s.

Tyson (48-3, 2 no-decisions, 42 KOs) has more muscle and less fat than usual, and his upper body is even bigger since he began endurance and strength training four months ago.

Tyson says he's recaptured his mental edge while working with fitness coach Gunnar Peterson.

"Last year I thought it would be my last time doing it," said Tyson, who said before fighting Andrew Golota on Oct. 20, 2000, that it would be his final bout.

"But I'm here again. I have a new trainer in Gunnar Peterson, and my condition and shape is why I'm still around."