COPENHAGEN, Denmark -- Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson is ready for his first fight in nearly a year, and says Danish opponent Brian Nielsen is "in a lot of trouble."

The fight Oct. 13 against Nielsen, 62-1, with 43 knockouts -- regarded as a major step toward another shot at the heavyweight title for Tyson -- was scheduled Sept. 8 but was pushed back five weeks because Tyson had back spasms that kept him from properly preparing.

"I'm in a great shape," Tyson told Denmark's TV2 channel in a brief interview after a warmup session at a local gym. "He is in a lot of trouble because I am going to destroy him."

Asked what it would take for the 36-year-old Danish boxer to win, Tyson replied: "That I chop off both my arms."

Tyson, 49-3 with 43 knockouts, was training in a new gym and fitness center that hasn't yet opened to the public.

The 35-year-old boxer arrived early Monday in Copenhagen and took the rest of the day off, going for an evening stroll with his trainers and three bodyguards on the city's main pedestrian street and having dinner at a trendy restaurant.

He last fought on Oct. 20 against Andrew Golota in a bout at Auburn Hills, Mich., that was ended after Golota quit in the second round.

Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion in history at age 20 in 1986.

He was imprisoned for three years in Indiana for raping a beauty pageant contestant in an Indianapolis hotel room in 1991. In 1997, he was fined $3 million for biting Evander Holyfield's ears during their heavyweight title fight in Las Vegas.

Last week, police searched his home in Las Vegas, where he was training, after a sexual assault allegation was made against him, the second in less than three months, but no charges have been filed.