The Eve of Lewis-Tyson

By Murali Para

08.06 - On the eve of probably the biggest fight of my generation, the temperature is soaring within the boxing fraternity. Lewis-Tyson has finally arrived, a cool decade after it might have taken place if not for Tyson's first jail term. For so long, it seemed destined never to happen. After Tyson paid Lewis millions so that he could dodge him and meet Bruce Seldon instead, many of us - myself included - really did not think this match-up would ever be realised. Especially in the wake of Tyson's infamous 'bite fight' with Evander Holyfield. But here we are, and experienced fight fans say there is an air of expectancy surrounding the fight not seen since the rivalry between Ali and Frazier.

And everyone from Holyfield himself to the bloke next door has their own way of envisioning how the fight will go. The question remains, tantalisingly, Who is in the know? Well, there can be no doubt about the imponderables in this fight. The fighters' mental focus and physical conditioning will be the key to the fight, it almost goes without saying. In keeping with his usual, disciplined training, Lewis has weighed in a few pounds heavier than he did for the Rahman rematch. Tyson, meanwhile, has continued to be unpredictable by coming in at just under 17 stone, which - if not for the Nielsen fight - would be the heaviest of his career by more than half a stone.

This fight is almost unique in that it is between two heavyweights who - while they are completely different stylistically - are both gifted with the power to stun and knock the other out within the first few rounds. This makes for a volatile brew. Lewis's tactics will be very influential on how the fight unravels. A highly skilled pugilist, Lewis has the option of trying to keep his opponent on the end of the jab indefinitely as in the Tua fight, maybe throwing in power right hands and uppercuts for good measure along the way. Or he can cut loose with his full arsenal, going for an early knockout as he did against Golota or Grant. With Steward in his corner, Lewis is certain to have at least a Plan A and a Plan B to choose between.

Tyson, on the other hand, is entirely different. While Lewis might struggle a bit with Tyson, having to punch down, Tyson will clearly not relish Lewis's height and reach advantages. The Mike Tyson of 2002 is far removed from the elusive, human wrecking machine that knocked out Spinks inside a round in 1988. Unfortunately, gone is much of the head movement andquick footwork he used to get himself on the inside back then. He does, though, retain his enormous power and, importantly, much of his hand speed. With Tyson weighing in heavy as discussed, I believe the first 3 or 4 rounds will be his best bet in terms of blowing out Lewis whose chin, as we know, is somewhat questionable. He will exert pressure relentlessly, possibly from the word go, and it is not inconceivable that Lewis may go the same way Savarese did - floored early by a hook and stopped with the follow-up barrage.

So which way will the pendulum swing? The funny thing is, we have a case where we simply can't write off any of the scenarios above. Both camps, naturally, have their ardent supporters. While Tyson is, even now, responsible for most of the media attention and is the bigger draw, many feel his comments and attitude have been less than responsible. I understand this position. Lewis, of course, has reigned on and off for the past decade, mostly with dignity and decorum. And so the fight becomes a battle between Good and Evil. Well, I'll pass on that analogy, but I'm definitely
hoping for a clean fight. And I can't sign off without a prediction. Sitting on the fence is no fun! So,
enjoy the fight, and ... TYSON KO3 LEWIS