MIKE TYSON yesterday decided it was time to declare war on Frank Bruno and his army of supporters due to flood into Las Vegas this week. The former undisputed world heavyweight champion vowed: "Yeah, 5,000 will be coming here to root for him - and the same 5,000 will take that long, depressing trip back to England with him.

"Bruno says he'll knock me out, but I'm sure he doesn't believe it in his heart, especially after our last encounter. But I will say this about him: he is the heavyweight champion of the world. I'm not ranting and raving, but my actions speak louder than words."

Bruno, so amazingly relaxed and focused about the biggest night of his fighting life, frowned and countered: "It's crazy to say 5,000 fans are going to go home disappointed. I'm a proud guy, that's why I stick in there and the reason why I've fulfilled my dream.

"I don't want to embarrass myself. I've embarrassed myself in the past by wearing wigs and skirts in pantomime. This is serious business. I'm flying the flag for England and I'm proud to do that. I've worked too many years and taken too much stick.

"Okay, he says I can't believe in my own heart that I will knock him out. But who does he think he is. He's on a different planet know what I mean? I believe in myself so very much and you'll see on the 16th.

"Whether the victory comes early or late, it will come. If you've been in prison and only had 10 minutes of ring activity in four years it is all beneficial to me.

"And I don't think the crew around him are doing him any favours, Deep down in his brain, I don't think he's ready for the fight."

And Bruno remains sceptical about reports of the mayhem Tyson is unleashing at his Golden Gloves headquarters gymnasium. Bruno fired back: "His management have been saying he's been knocking out this one's teeth, that one's teeth, but as far as I can see the teeth are still in there."

Bruno added: "If I was fighting me I'd be worried. He's going to worry about me more than I'm going to worry about him." Bruno is quoted at 10 to 1 to win by a stoppage, against the 1 to 5 of Tyson.

Nobody has seen Bruno in so dominant, I can't be beaten frame of mind. After all, he is the champion and, mentally, that means everything to him. And Tyson, after his spell in detention, has still to re prove himself.

Meanwhile, Tyson is still elated by the arrival last month of his baby daughter Rayna. But her mother may not be too excited by Tyson's comment of: "Her mother is extremely beautiful but she (Rayna) is so beautiful and so gorgeous that she makes her mother look like a yard dog."