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Tyson Drops Francis In 2nd

January 29, 2000 / 7:54 PM EST / AP

Mike Tyson gave a frenzied sellout crowd what it came to see with an explosive attack that knocked down British champion Julius Francis five times and stopped him in the second round Saturday night.

Tyson, fighting for the first time in Britain, needed a quick and clean victory, and he got it before 21,000 fans at the MEN Arena.

"This is what I want to do every time out," said the 33-year-old Tyson, who won for just the second time in his last five fights.

"I was surprised he kept getting up. I hit him with some good body shots."

Francis didn't run and did his best to exchange punches with the former heavyweight champion, who was wild early in the first round. Francis actually landed a couple good body punches.

Then, at about 2:18 of the round, Tyson sent Francis down for a 9-count with a short right to the jaw.

Just before the bell, Tyson landed another hard right that put Francis down. A knocked-down fighter can't be saved by the bell, but Francis managed to scramble up at 7.

The second round lasted only 1:03 as Tyson came charging out of his corner to finish the job.

Tyson knocked down Francis with a left hook to the body. He got up at the count of 8, but then went down for a 7-count from a right to the body and right uppercut to the head.

Another right uppercut sent Francis down for the third time in the round and referee Roy Francis, no relation, halted the bout without counting.

"I went in thinking I had it right for fighting Mike Tyson," the 35-year-old Francis said. "But I didn't get it right. He's real powerful, but what surprised me was the short punches inside.

"Losing is not acceptable, but I got in some good shots and Mike Tyson knew I hit him."

Francis' troubles actually started when Tyson was allowed to enter Britain on Jan. 16.

There had been opposition because of his three-year prison term on a rape conviction. Under British law, any visitor who spends more than a year in prison can be barred from the country.

But Tyson was eventually admitted and he became a media darling and very popular with the public. His appearance in Manchester produced $34 million in business, according to the Manchester Evening News.

Although Tyson's trip angered some groups in the country, it actually turned out to be fairly controversy-free. He did cause a stir Friday when he went to the airport and it was reported he tried to get on a flight out of the country.

"He never tried to get a flight," Frank Warren, the promoter, said. But Warren did say the fighter went to the airport to buy some magazines and then returned to the hotel for his official weigh-in.

The 4 minutes and 3 seconds of action against Francis means Tyson has fought only 70 minutes and 3 seconds in 8 years and 7 months.

His previous fight was a controversial one-round no-contest against Orlin Norris, who was knoked down by a punch after the bell.

Tyson traveled to England because he has become more difficult to sell in the United States since his unimpressive fight against Francois Botha about a year ago. That bout was his first since he bit Evander Holyfield's ears, and the no-contest with Norris followed.

The fight, shown on pay-per-view in Britain by Sky, was on Showtime in the United States with the telecast set to begin at 10 p.m. EST, more than three hours after Tyson's victory.

Tyson, 223 3/4, was scheduled to return to the United States on Sunday. He earned from $8 million to $11 million for his 47th victory and 41st knockout. He has lost three times and has the one no-contest.

Francis, 244 1/2, (21-8, 11 knockouts) earned $560,000.