Mike Tyson gave a fleeting glimpse of the speed and power he will bring to Saturday’s heavyweight title showdown against Lennox Lewis, but left the talking to his trainers.
Former world champion Tyson worked out in front of reporters for about 15 minutes in Mississippi on Tuesday, sending rapid-fire blows at a punching bag and practicing his dodge and attack techniques before departing without comment.
”He didn’t want to talk. He wants to stay focused,” trainer Ronnie Shields said. ”You guys irritate him. You all ask him some crazy questions. When it comes to Mike you come out with all the bullshit. That’s why he won’t come out and talk to you.”
That left Shields and assistant trainer Stacy McKinley to throw down the final taunts to British champion Lewis for their meeting Saturday in nearby Memphis, Tennessee.
”You tell Lennox Lewis all hell is coming,” McKinley said. ”We’re not worried about Lennox Lewis. Lennox who? Who has he beat? Frans Botha. Michael Grant. I can beat them.”
”He gets out there and hesitates. He hesitates against Mike Tyson, he’s going to get knocked out.
You all know he has got a lot of bitch in him. He’s a real bitch,” said McKinley.
McKinley, who predicted a Tyson knockout within five rounds, also ripped Lewis for insisting upon contract terms for pre-fight scheduling that will keep the fighters separated until the bell rings.
That precaution was made after a January news conference turned into a brawl during which Tyson bit Lewis on the left thigh, nearly wiping out any hope of the long awaited fight.
”When you are a coward, you put a lot of things in the contract. He’s a coward,” McKinley said. ”A coward dies 1 000 deaths. He doesn’t want to see Mike. He’s a coward. It takes guts to get into the ring but it takes heart to stay there.”
Tyson’s trainers said they did not know if the fighter is taking anti-depression medication as he had in the past. But they do know his skills and fitness are where they want them to be.
”He punches hard. Speed is power,” Shields said. ”He is doing everything. When I saw that I hought, ‘Wow”’.
Tyson sparred briefly in private with Cisse Selif, a Lewis-sized stand-in.
”I just try to make it hard for him. But he is ready to go,” Selif said. ”His body is hard. He speed is there. He is focused.”
Tyson looked fit and fast, but there was little to support or challenge his trainers’ claims that he is mentally fit as well.
”Mike Tyson is in the best shape of his life,” McKinley said. ”He is physically strong, mentally strong and technically sound.”
Tyson does appear to be preparing to attack Lewis, something Shields said he must do to have a hope of overcoming Lewis’ longer reach and winning.
”Lennox is a good fighter. He has to stay close to Lennox. He can’t win the fight on the outside,” Shields said.
”Mike listens. He tries everything we tell him. I can’t change Mike Tyson. I just tried to add some things we knew might work for him.”
Shields said Tyson wants this fight more than any other in his career.
”He said, ‘I have been fighting for everybody else. I want this one for me,”’ Shields said.
”This is his challenge. Lennox Lewis is a great fighter. He will bring out the best in Mike Tyson.” – Sapa-AFP