Tyson Is Sharp in Return

Six rounds not only gave Mike Tyson some much needed work, it may also have gotten him another shot at the heavyweight title.

In his longest fight since losing his title to Evander Holyfield five years ago, Tyson bloodied Brian Nielsen and knocked him down Saturday before the bout was stopped with the half-blinded Dane still on his stool after the sixth round.

Although the fight was stopped between rounds, it will be officially ruled a seventh-round technical knockout.

“I’m back,” Tyson said. “For the next fight I must train harder. I knew I would have him eventually. He put on a heck of a fight.”

Tyson, 35, may have set himself up to win the heavyweight title once again. He is ranked No. 1 by the World Boxing Council and is likely to get the mandatory shot at the winner of the Nov. 17 fight between World Boxing Assn. and International Boxing Federation champion Hasim Rahman and Lennox Lewis.

Six rounds are the most for Tyson since Holyfield stopped him in the 11th round Nov. 9, 1996, for the WBA title.

It was the first bout for Tyson in nearly a year. He fought at 239 pounds, by far the heaviest of his career.

Tyson improved to 49-3 with two no-decisions and 43 KOs.

Nielsen dropped to 62-2 with 43 KOs.