Memphis, Tenn. ? There is still some badness left in Iron Mike after all.

In desperate need of a devastating win, Mike Tyson got just that Saturday night, flattening Clifford Etienne with a savage right hand reminiscent of Tyson in his prime.

Etienne was knocked flat on his back in the middle of the ring and he stayed there as referee Bill Clancy counted him out only 49 seconds into the scheduled 10-round fight.

Tyson then leaned over and helped Etienne to his feet as the crowd at the Pyramid arena erupted in glee at the sudden ending to a fight that seemed like it would never happen.

Fighting in the same ring where Lennox Lewis gave him a beating last June, Tyson went right after Etienne, who cooperated by standing in front of him and throwing punches back.

It proved a mistake when Tyson threw a right hand that landed flush on Etienne’s jaw and sent him sprawling to the canvas.

It was the 16th knockout in the first 1:33 of the first round or less for Tyson and his sixth-quickest ever. He needed it badly to salvage his chances of a rematch with Lewis or a possible third fight with Evander Holyfield.

“To be honest I’m not ready to fight him (Lewis) at this time,” Tyson said. “I need more fights. I don’t want to get beat up again.”

Etienne was picked as an opponent because he figured to give Tyson an easy target, and he didn’t disappoint.

“I kept my hands up looking for the opening and I got it,” Tyson said.