Clifford Etienne took up boxing while serving a 40-year prison sentence for armed robbery in his home state of Louisiana. A hard puncher with torrid determination, Etienne won the state prison boxing championship in his first year. Etienne became a affiliated member of the notorious "Gunslingers" prison boxing team in Louisiana and reportedly had a 30–0 prison record. He was released on good behavior after serving 10 years.
Clifford had his sights on turning to professional boxing now as a means to going straight. He turned pro in 1998 with a one round knockout in Mississippi. By 2000 Etienne had racked up 19 straight wins and was named 2000's "Most Exciting Fighter to Watch" in the heavyweight division by 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 had also beaten Relentless Lamon Brewster, the future WBO heavyweight champion, on points after ten rounds in the May of that year. Clifford then landed a contract with Showtime, this elevated Clifford's profile and his stock was set to rise, but it would quickly fall after an upset first pro loss to Puerto Rican Fres Oquendo, who stopped Etienne in the eighth round of their fight in March 2001.
Clifford now had to try rebuild and by 2002 he had racked up five solid wins in a row plus a gutsy draw with highly ranked former IBF champion Franz Botha.. Etiennes fight with Botha caught the eye of the Tyson people who were on the lookout for a comeback opponent for the former champion... In 2003 , in Memphis, Tyson v Etienne was made and Clifford was catapulted to the world's stage for an unlikely chance to pull off a huge upset.. Unfortunately Tyson showed up on this occasion and overwealmed Etienne who was prepared to exchange in the early seconds, but it wasn't for long, Etienne suffered a first-round knock-out only 49 seconds after being caught with a right hand.
After the loss to Tyson, Etienne's future seemed to be that of a journeyman opponent. Former Olympian Calvin Brock stopped Etienne in the third round in January 2005.
The same year Etienne's last fight would be against Nikolai Valuev, who would go on to become the WBA champion. Valuev knocked Etienne out in the third round of their fight in Germany.
2006 saw Clifford Etienne find trouble again..
News Story..
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 an allegedly cocaine fueled crime spree that included robbing a check cashing business, Carjacking, kidnapping a family, and attempting to shoot two policemen. In April 2013 his sentence was reduced from 150 years to 105 years due to a technicality. Regardless.. Clifford Etienne won't be likely to see freedom in his lifetime..
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