Clifford Etienne

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Clifford Etienne
Statistics
Real name Clifford Etienne
Nickname(s) "The Black Rhino"
Rated at Heavyweight
Nationality United States American
Born (1970-03-09) March 9, 1970
Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S.
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 35
Wins 29
Wins by KO 20
Losses 4
Draws 2
No contests 0

Clifford Etienne (born March 9, 1970 in Lafayette, Louisiana), also known as "The Black Rhino", is a former American boxer, who is currently serving a 105 year prison sentence without possibility of parole.

Background

Etienne took up boxing while serving a 40 year prison sentence for armed robbery and won the state prison boxing championship. While in prison he was a member of the "Gunslingers" prison boxing team in Louisiana and reportedly had a 30-0 prison record. He was released on good behavior after serving 10 years.

Professional career

Upon being paroled from prison in 1998 he became a professional boxer; he won 29 matches (20 knockouts), lost 4, and drew 2.

Rise to the top

Further information: Mike Tyson vs. Clifford Etienne

Etienne was named 2000's "Most Exciting Fighter to Watch" in the heavyweight division by The Ring Magazine, largely the result of his unanimous decision over then-undefeated Lawrence Clay Bey. The fight was widely considered to be one of the best heavyweight matches of that year. He also beat Lamon Brewster, the future WBO heavyweight champion, on points after ten rounds in May 2000. He landed a contract with Showtime and his stock began to rise, but it quickly fell after an upset loss to Fres Oquendo, who stopped Etienne in the eight round of their fight in March 2001.

After re-building some of his lost stature with wins, he was catapulted to the world's stage in a 2003 fight against Mike Tyson, where Etienne suffered a first round knock-out only 49 seconds after being caught with a right hand.

Decline

After the loss to Tyson, Etienne's future seemed to be that of a journeyman opponent. Calvin Brock stopped Etienne in the third round in January 2005.

Etienne's last fight was against Nicolay Valuev. "The Beast from the East", who would go on to become the WBA champion, stopped Etienne in the third round of their fight in Bayreuth, Germany in May 2005.

Trouble outside the ring

On August 11, 2005, Fightnews.com reported Etienne's ring career likely over with the following story:

Well known heavyweight Clifford Etienne was arrested Wednesday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on charges of armed robbery, kidnapping and the attempted murder of a police officer. Etienne allegedly robbed a local business, car-jacked a vehicle containing a woman and her children, then pulled a gun on police officers. He is being held in East Baton Rouge Parish Prison with a $70,000 bond.

On June 22, 2006, following his trial in Baton Rouge, Etienne was found guilty and sentenced to 150 years in prison without parole for an allegedly cocaine fueled crime spree that included robbing a check cashing business, carjacking and kidnapping a family, and attempting to shoot two policemen . In April 2013 his sentence was reduced from 160 years to 105 years due to a technicality.

Professional boxing record

29 Wins (20 knockouts, 9 decisions), 4 Losses (4 knockouts, 0 decisions), 2 Draws
Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 29-4-2 Russia Nikolay Valuev KO 3 (12) 14/05/2005 Bavaria Oberfrankenhalle, Bayreuth, Bayern, Germany For WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title. Etienne down twice in round 3rd.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 29-3-2 United States Calvin Brock TKO 3 (10) 21/01/2005 Texas Reliant Center, Houston, Texas, United States Etienne was knocked down once in the 2nd, and twice in the 3rd round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 29-2-2 United States Kenny Craven TKO 2 (10) 27/11/2004 Kentucky Louisville Gardens, Louisville, Kentucky, United States Etienne down in round 1. Craven was unable to continue due to a cut over his left eye.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 28-2-2 United States Talmadge Griffis UD 10 09/06/2004 Nevada City Center Pavilion, Reno, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 27-2-2 Ivory Coast Onebo Maxime UD 8 27/05/2004 Louisiana Alario Center, Westwego, Louisiana, United States
Draw 26-2-2 Mexico Gilbert Martinez PTS 8 27/03/2004 Nevada Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 26-2-1 United States Mike Sheppard KO 2 (8) 21/02/2004 Ohio Chapparal's, Akron, Ohio, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 25-2-1 United States Shawn Robinson TKO 4 (8) 07/02/2004 Indiana Riehle Brothers Pavilion, Lafayette, Indiana, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 24-2-1 United States Mike Tyson KO 1 (10) 22/02/2003 Tennessee The Pyramid, Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Draw 24-1-1 South Africa Francois Botha PTS 10 27/07/2002 Louisiana New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States Etienne down in the 5th and 6th rounds.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 24–1 United States Terrence Lewis UD 10 27/04/2002 Connecticut Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 23–1 United States Gabe Brown TKO 7 (10) 02/02/2002 Florida American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 22–1 United States Dan Ward TKO 2 (12) 08/12/2001 Mississippi Grand Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, United States Won vacant IBA Americas Heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 21–1 United States Ken Murphy KO 1 (10) 31/08/2001 Mississippi Grand Casino, Gulfport, Mississippi, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 20–1 United States Arthur Weathers KO 1 (10) 22/06/2001 Mississippi Grand Casino, Gulfport, Mississippi, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 19–1 United States Fres Oquendo TKO 8 (10) 23/03/2001 Nevada Texas Station Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Etienne knocked down seven times, all by overhand rights: three times in the 1st round, once in the 2nd, once in the 3rd, once in the 7th and once in the 8th round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 19–0 United States Lawrence Clay Bey UD 10 11/11/2000 Nevada Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Etienne was hurt at the end of the 2nd round and in the 7th round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 18–0 United States Cliff Couser TKO 3 (10) 09/09/2000 West Virginia Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort, Chester, West Virginia, United States Won vacant NABF Heavyweight title. Title had been vacated by Michael Grant.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 17–0 United States Joey Guy KO 3 (12) 30/06/2000 Louisiana Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States Won vacant IBA Continental Heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 16–0 United States Lamon Brewster UD 10 06/05/2000 Pennsylvania Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States Lamon Brewster tore his knee ligaments in the 1st.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 15–0 United States Harold Sconiers UD 10 18/03/2000 Louisiana Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 14–0 United States James Jones TKO 2 (10) 26/02/2000 Mississippi Grand Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, United States Etienne down in the 1st round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 13–0 United States Marvin Hunt TKO 1 (6) 28/01/2000 Louisiana The Ruins, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 12–0 United States Dan Conway TKO 1 (4) 26/11/1999 Louisiana New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 11–0 United States Darrell Morgan TKO 1 (4) 17/09/1999 Nevada All American Sports Park, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 10–0 United States Clarence Goins KO 1 (?) 08/09/1999 Louisiana Treasure Chest Casino, Kenner, Louisiana, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 9–0 United States Abdul Muhaymin UD 8 20/08/1999 Louisiana Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 8–0 United States Eric Jackson KO 1 (8) 11/06/1999 Mississippi Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 7–0 United States Ronnie Smith KO 1 (?) 30/04/1999 Louisiana Marksville, Louisiana, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 6–0 United States Larry Scott UD 6 15/04/1999 Florida Miccosukee Indian Gaming Resort, Miami, Florida, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 5–0 United States Wesley Martin TKO 6 (6) 27/02/1999 Louisiana Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 4–0 United States Willie Kyles TKO 1 (6) 06/02/1999 Mississippi Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 3–0 United States Eddie Richardson UD 6 19/01/1999 Louisiana Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 2–0 United States Curt Render TKO 1 (4) 11/12/1998 Louisiana Marksville, Louisiana, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 1–0 United States John Randall KO 1 (4) 03/12/1998 Mississippi Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, United States

Bilal Taaibi

References

External links

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