COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Oct. 12 (UPI) -- COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Oct. 12 (UPI) -- Mike Tyson continues his quest for another shot at a world title when he returns to Europe on Saturday night to meet local favorite Brian Nielsen in a 10-round heavyweight bout at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen.
The troubled Tyson (48-3, 42 KOs, 2 no-contests) will be fighting for the third time in Europe since returning to the ring in January, 1999. He was banished from boxing in August, 1998 after his license was suspended by the Nevada Athletic Commission. The action followed his disqualification in a title fight with Evander Holyfield for twice biting Holyfield's ear.
He has fought five times since with mixed results.
In his first fight, Tyson struggled before posting a one-punch knockout of South African Francois Botha in January 1999. Nine months later, Tyson fought to a bizarre no-contest when he accidentally hit Orlin Norris after the bell in the opening round. Norris injured his knee as a result of the punch and was unable to continue.
Tyson made his European debut with a second-round blitzing of Julius Francis in England on Jan. 20, 2000 and followed up with another fight overseas when he beat Lou Savarese in one round in Ireland five months later.
Tyson, 35, is ranked in the top 10 by all three major sanction bodies and is the top ranked contender in the WBC's heavyweight rankings. He has not fought since making Andrew Golota quit after three rounds last October, but the result later was changed to a no-contest when Tyson reportedly failed a post-fight drug test.
