DETROIT -- Andrew Golota's trainer expects the worst in his fighter's bout with Mike Tyson.

"I don't think it's going to be a clean fight," Al Certo said Wednesday. "It could be a war, I predict. I wish it would be a clean good war and give the fans something to get excited about."

Golota and Tyson will fight Oct. 20 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Golota doesn't "like to revert to the dirty tactics," Certo said. "But if it comes, he's going to retaliate a lot more than what he's getting. He hopes it doesn't happen, but I don't see it happening any other way."

Golota, 32, a native of Poland living in Chicago, bit Samson Pou'ha on a shoulder in 1995 and head-butted Danell Nicholson in 1996. Golota won both bouts, but twice was disqualified for repeated low blows against Riddick Bowe in 1996.

Tyson, of course, was disqualified, fined $3 million and had his license revoked for a time for biting Evander Holyfield's ear in 1997. He also knocked down Orlin Norris after the bell ended the first round Oct. 23; the fight was declared a no-contest when Norris hurt his knee in falling and couldn't continue. On June 24 in Glasgow, Scotland, Tyson tried to attack Lou Savarese after stopping him in 38 seconds. He was fined $187,500.

During a profanity-laced press conference two weeks ago, Tyson told reporters he was taking the anti-depressant medication Zoloft "to keep me from killing y'all. ... It has really messed me up, and I don't want to be taking it, but they are concerned about the fact that I am a violent person, almost an animal. And they only want me to be an animal in the ring."

Tyson's routine has become mostly talk, Certo said Wednesday.

"When we talk about Mike, we're not talking about the old Mike Tyson -- the fearful fighter he was five, 10 years ago with a lot of fire. The older you get, the more gun-shy you get. ... if Tyson thinks Andrew Golota is going to be falling apart, he's mistaken."

Certo conceded that while Golota can't match Tyson's speed, he makes up for in power.

"He has a choice whether he wants to box inside or outside, he can do it either way. Tyson can't box on the outside," Certo said. "If Andrew can control the fight, we'll have no problem."

Which brings up the question of how Golota might respond if things get out of control -- not outside the realm of possibility with many Tyson bouts.

His sparring partners have tried to get Golota's goat during their 10-round workouts by head-butting him and stepping on his feet, Certo said. Golota initially reacted with anger but was told to expect such tactics from Tyson, the trainer said.

"Some of the things they done to him he didn't like. But (now) he knows what he's in for," Certo said.

"We don't plan to throw him in the air or anything. We intend to outsmart him. That's in our plans. But if it has to go another way, we'll go that route. ... if Tyson gets dirty I hope he goes right in and does what he has to do to win.

"I know what Golota would do, I know what he intends to do. But Mike Tyson -- I don't know what he intends to do."