- Clifford Etienne
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Clifford Etienne Statistics Real name Clifford Etienne Nickname(s) The Black Rhino Rated at Heavyweight Nationality American Born March 9, 1972
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, 1972 in Lafayette, Louisiana), also known as "The Black Rhino", is a former American boxer, who is currently serving a 150 year prison sentence without possibility of parole.
Contents
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 an 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
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.
He holds notable wins over Cliff Couser, Lawrence Clay Bey and Lamon Brewster.
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 a cocaine fueled crime spree that included robbing a check cashing business, carjacking and kidnapping a family, and attempting to shoot two policemen [1].
Professional boxing record
29 Wins (20 knockouts, 9 decisions), 4 Losses (4 knockouts, 0 decisions), 2 Draws [2] Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes Loss 29-4-2 Nikolay Valuev
KO 3 (12) 14/05/2005 Oberfrankenhalle, Bayreuth, Bayern, Germany
For WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title. Etienne down twice in round 3rd. Loss 29-3-2 Calvin Brock
TKO 3 (10) 21/01/2005 Reliant Center, Houston, Texas, United States
Etienne was knocked down once in the 2nd, and twice in the 3rd round. Win 29-2-2 Kenny Craven
TKO 2 (10) 27/11/2004 Louisville Gardens, Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Etienne down in round 1. Craven was unable to continue due to a cut over his left eye. Win 28-2-2 Talmadge Griffis
UD 10 09/06/2004 City Center Pavilion, Reno, Nevada, United States
Win 27-2-2 Onebo Maxime
UD 8 27/05/2004 Alario Center, Westwego, Louisiana, United States
Draw 26-2-2 Gilbert Martinez
PTS 8 27/03/2004 Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, United States
Win 26-2-1 Mike Sheppard
KO 2 (8) 21/02/2004 Chapparal's, Akron, Ohio, United States
Win 25-2-1 Shawn Robinson
TKO 4 (8) 07/02/2004 Riehle Brothers Pavilion, Lafayette, Indiana, United States
Loss 24-2-1 Mike Tyson
KO 1 (10) 22/02/2003 The Pyramid, Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Draw 24-1-1 Francois Botha
PTS 10 27/07/2002 New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Etienne down in the 5th and 6th rounds. Win 24–1 Terrence Lewis
UD 10 27/04/2002 Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Win 23–1 Gabe Brown
TKO 7 (10) 02/02/2002 American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida, United States
Win 22–1 Dan Ward
TKO 2 (12) 08/12/2001 Grand Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, United States
Won vacant IBA Americas Heavyweight title. Win 21–1 Ken Murphy
KO 1 (10) 31/08/2001 Grand Casino, Gulfport, Mississippi, United States
Win 20–1 Arthur Weathers
KO 1 (10) 22/06/2001 Grand Casino, Gulfport, Mississippi, United States
Loss 19–1 Fres Oquendo
TKO 8 (10) 23/03/2001 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. Win 19–0 Lawrence Clay Bey
UD 10 11/11/2000 Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Etienne was hurt at the end of the 2nd round and in the 7th round. Win 18–0 Cliff Couser
TKO 3 (10) 09/09/2000 Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort, Chester, West Virginia, United States
Won vacant NABF Heavyweight title. Title had been vacated by Michael Grant. Win 17–0 Joey Guy
KO 3 (12) 30/06/2000 Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
Won vacant IBA Continental Heavyweight title. Win 16–0 Lamon Brewster
UD 10 06/05/2000 Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Lamon Brewster tore his knee ligaments in the 1st. Win 15–0 Harold Sconiers
UD 10 18/03/2000 Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
Win 14–0 James Jones
TKO 2 (10) 26/02/2000 Grand Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, United States
Etienne down in the 1st round. Win 13–0 Marvin Hunt
TKO 1 (6) 28/01/2000 The Ruins, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Win 12–0 Dan Conway
TKO 1 (4) 26/11/1999 New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Win 11–0 Darrell Morgan
TKO 1 (4) 17/09/1999 All American Sports Park, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 10–0 Clarence Goins
KO 1 (?) 08/09/1999 Treasure Chest Casino, Kenner, Louisiana, United States
Win 9–0 Abdul Muhaymin
UD 8 20/08/1999 Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
Win 8–0 Eric Jackson
KO 1 (8) 11/06/1999 Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, United States
Win 7–0 Ronnie Smith
KO 1 (?) 30/04/1999 Marksville, Louisiana, United States
Win 6–0 Larry Scott
UD 6 15/04/1999 Miccosukee Indian Gaming Resort, Miami, Florida, United States
Win 5–0 Wesley Martin
TKO 6 (6) 27/02/1999 Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
Win 4–0 Willie Kyles
TKO 1 (6) 06/02/1999 Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, United States
Win 3–0 Eddie Richardson
UD 6 19/01/1999 Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Win 2–0 Curt Render
TKO 1 (4) 11/12/1998 Marksville, Louisiana, United States
Win 1–0 John Randall
KO 1 (4) 03/12/1998 Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, United States
References
- Mike Tyson KOs Clifford Etienne
- Tyson knocks out Etienne in 49 seconds
- Etienne arrested
- Heavyweight boxer Etienne arrested
- Clifford Etienne “The Black Rhino” Sentenced to 150 Years in Prison
External links
- Professional boxing record for Clifford Etienne from BoxRec
Categories:- 1972 births
- Living people
- People from Lafayette, Louisiana
- Boxers from Louisiana
- Heavyweight boxers
- African American boxers
- Prisoners and detainees of Louisiana
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