World heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis has grudging, even cynical, support from most top rivals in Saturday’s boxing showdown with controversial ex-champion Mike Tyson.
But one thing they agree upon is that the 36-year-old British ring king had best be wary of Tyson’s knockout threat if he hopes to retain the heavyweight throne.
”Lennox by a knockout, because he is a big guy. Lennox has power,” top-rated contender Chris Byrd said. ”But if Tyson can get off in the first three rounds he has a chance. Tyson has tremendous punching power and quick hands.”
Byrd is the mandatory challenger for the International Boxing Federation title at stake along with the World Boxing Council crown on Saturday in Memphis, Tennessee. But Byrd doubts he will ever fight the tough-talking Tyson.
”Tyson won’t fight me,” Byrd said. ”With his style of fighting he would probably bring a gun and shoot me.”
Tyson has threatened to kill Lewis and ”eat his children” and also bit Lewis on the leg in a January brawl, which began when Tyson walked toward Lewis and threw a punch at a bodyguard who tried to stop him.
”Anytime a big heavyweight has got to bring a bodyguard to keep the little heavyweight from jumping on him, something is wrong,” taunted former champion Evander Holyfield, who thinks Tyson can win by a knockout.
”When you have a guy who goes backwards and don’t get aggressive, a guy like Tyson who has fast hands will get a shot in. I don’t believe anybody is going to beat Tyson going backwards.”
Holyfield, bitten on the ear by Tyson during an infamous 1997 title fight, was the only one of four top American contenders to give Tyson better than a 50-50 chance at dethroning Lewis.
Holyfield beat Hasim Rahman in Atlantic City last Saturday on a technical split decision in a battle of former champions. Rahman, who beat Lewis last year only to lose his crown in a November rematch, judges Lewis-Tyson as too close to call.
”I don’t think you can pick a winner. It’s 50-50,” Rahman said. ”It depends on who gets off first. The first big bomb landed will see the end of the fight.”
John Ruiz, who defends the World Boxing Association title next month against unbeaten Canadian Kirk Johnson, doubts Lewis can knock out Tyson but expects the champion’s superior size to be a telling factor.
”He will win by decision. He will run away,” Ruiz said. Holyfield also took plenty of verbal jabs at Lewis, who has spoken of retirement if he beats Tyson, the only major unconquered foe of his era.
”He might retire if he wins. Why would I want him to win?” Holyfield said. ”It shows me he’s thinking, ‘I’m so happy I got by. I would rather retire than fight Evander again.”’
The idea of Lewis retiring with the undisputed crown nags at Holyfield, who at 39 is seen by many as over the hill. Holyfield lost a 1999 showdown to Lewis for the undisputed title after a prior draw that most observers thought Holyfield lost.
”He says I’m too old. How can a man call you ‘too old’ when he’s only three years younger?” Holyfield said. ”He got a break and he don’t ever want to risk the chance to get knocked out. If you are going to retire you shouldn’t put me down.”
Holyfield won a technical split decision after a bruise on Rahman’s head swelled to such dangerous proportions that the fight was halted one minute and 40 seconds into the eighth round.
The head-butt which inflicted the injury was deemed accidental, but Rahman’s complaint about Holyfield using his head as a weapon echoes similar comments from Lewis, Tyson and Ruiz — all of whom might not be willing to risk cranial assault.
”Maybe that’s the way he fights — he just fouls with his head,” Rahman said. ”He must have a steel plate in his head,” Rahman said. ”I have never seen anyone do so much damage with a punch, much less his head.
”(Next time), I’ll probably come in with a helmet on.” – Sapa-AFP