MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- A cold blowing rain swept empty streets around the Pyramid arena Saturday as Mike Tyson prepared to stage his second fight in Memphis.

In June, when Tyson was soundly beaten at the Pyramid by Lennox Lewis, the downtown scene was much more lively, with the streets packed by gawkers looking for celebrities and revelers ready for a good time.

Then, street preachers were joined by protesters accusing Tyson of hating women and homosexuals.

None of those folks showed up for Saturday's fight, but there was considerably less of the news media coverage that helps attract them.

Also, no title was on the line for Tyson's match with Clifford Etienne, a largely unknown slugger with a habit of spending much of his ring time on his back.

Derek Shaw, 29, a computer programer from Memphis, braved the steady drizzle to pay $180 for a buy-one-get-one-free ticket.

"I just want to see Tyson,'' Shaw said. "I might not get to see him again.''

Indeed, Tyson's future has been cloudy since his beating by Lewis, his last fight before the Etienne match.

"It's raining so it's kind of putting a damper on things. Before it was like really live. It was warm, summertime, everybody having fun,'' Shaw said.

He didn't make it to the Lewis-Tyson fight, but many Memphis nightclubs were packed due to the excitement surrounding the match and he was among the crowd.

Shawn Wade, 38, a wine and liquor distributor, came in from Atlanta for the first fight and returned for the second.

"Wherever Mike Tyson is, I'm a Mike Tyson fan,'' Wade said.

For the Lewis fight, "Mike wasn't Mike,'' Wade said. "Now Mike's back.''

Jake Schorr, owner of a bar and restaurant a block from the Pyramid, said he expected his place, which can hold 150 patrons, to be about two-thirds full after the fight.

But The North End restaurant, in a small entertainment district called the Pinch, likely will draw a mostly local crowd, he said.

In June, Lewis was welcomed to town with a Beale Street parade and Mayor Willie Herenton gave him a key to the city.

Celebrities coming in for that title match drew crowds of onlookers, and private parties were held throughout downtown.

The night of the fight, the streets for blocks around the Beale Street entertainment district were gridlocked.

No parades were held this time and police braced for a standard Saturday night crowd on Beale.

The only circus atmosphere was among the two fighters, with both Tyson and Etienne threatening at different times to withdraw from the match, and Tyson sporting a new controversial tattoo on his face.

Adding to the strangeness was former Olympic skater Tonya Harding making her debut as a professional boxer in one of the preliminary bouts.

The June fight drew 15,000 fans to the Pyramid, with tickets going for $250 to $2,400.

Tickets for the Tyson-Etienne fight started at $25, with many in the $60 to $300 range. The most expensive seats went for $1,425.