Former heavyweight contender Clifford Etienne was arrested earlier today on suspicion of armed robbery of a business, car jacking a vehicle with women and her children inside, while attempting to escape from the scene and attempted murder of a police officer.

According to unconfirmed reports, Etienne pulled a gun on the police while they were pursuing him, although he didn’t fire. Etienne was booked for attempted first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder of a police officer, and two counts each of armed robbery and second-degree kidnapping.

As early as 2000, Etienne was 19-0 and considered to be heavyweight on the rise. However, he appeared to be rushed too quickly into a bout with the talented Fres Oquendo, who easily destroyed him in eight rounds. Etienne's career never recovered from that loss, it seems, as he was knocked out in the first round by Mike Tyson in 2003, Calvin Brock in three rounds in January 2005, and Niclolay Valuev in the third round in May 2005. If Etienne is convicted of alleged charges, his once promising career will be finished.

8-12-2005