Silent Tyson 'real *****'

[madjack]

TUNICA, Mississippi: Mike Tyson has given a fleeting glimpse of the speed and power he will bring to Sunday's (AEST) 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 here, sending rapid-fire blows at a punching bag and practising 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 bull****. 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.

"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 ***** in him. He's a real *****."

That was the same word Tyson's then-managers used to describe Holyfield as he leaped in pain after having a chunk of his ear bitten off by Tyson in their 1997 title fight.

McKinley also ripped Lewis for contract terms for pre-fight scheduling that will keep the fighters separated until the bell rings, a precaution made after a January news conference turned into a brawl during which Tyson bit Lewis on the left thigh.

"When you are a coward, you put a lot of things in the contract. He's a coward," McKinley said. "A coward dies 1000 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 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."



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ouch!!!

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[madjack]

Tyson finally shuts up

From our wire services

04jun02

News Interactive

TUNICA, Mississippi: After making a profanity-filled pre-fight rant and taking a bite out of Lennox Lewis' left leg, Mike Tyson has finally decided to keep his mouth shut.


Tyson's camp announced today the former champion has scrapped plans to speak at a scheduled news conference here tomorrow (AEST) at the casino resort where he is conducting final workouts for Saturday's heavyweight showdown with Lewis.

"I'm ready," Tyson said after a weekend workout. "I'm going to kill him."

Reporters will be allowed to watch the final half-hour of Tyson's workout and trainer Ronnie Shields will speak, leaving challenger Tyson to do his talking in the ring at nearby Memphis, Tennessee, against the world champion from Britain.

"He is fine tuned already," Shields said. "This man is real focused right now and ready to do what he has to do."

Tyson mixed curses over sex and violence in his most recent meeting with reporters, saying last month in Hawaii that he wanted to stomp on their children's testicles and that he only spoke with women reporters after having sex with them.

Tyson, who bit off a chunk of Evander Holyfield's right ear during a 1997 title fight, also sparked a brawl with Lewis in January at a news conference to announce their fight, biting the champion's leg in the melee.

"He should have died that night," Tyson said last month. "Next time, flesh will not be enough. I will take Lennox's title, his soul and smear his pompous brains over the ring."

Lewis responded by calling Tyson a "cartoon character" and joked "I'm going to insist he has a big lunch and a big dinner before he steps in the ring."

As a result of the brawl, Tyson and Lewis were given separate schedules for pre-fight events, including the weigh-in, and there will be no touching of gloves in the ring before the fight. Indeed, police will be on hand to ensure the fight does not start until the opening bell.

Tyson will pay Lewis $588,000 for biting his leg and any fighter who commits a fight-ending flagrant foul surrenders $5.27m of his purse to his opponent. Each fighter is set to be paid $30.72m.

Sparring partner Leroy Seals went six rounds with Tyson on Sunday, his split lip a testimony to the former champion's intensity.

"He hasn't had this kind of anticipation in his training since about 1995," Seals said. "He's focused. He's digging. And he's ready."

In contrast to Lewis, who has paraded along the nightlife district for cheering fans, Tyson has remained private – except for stopping to greet startled anti-Tyson protesters outside a gymnasium where he trained.

The picketers had signs saying, "Tyson, stop your homophobia." Tyson walked up and hugged them, signed autographs and told them, "I'm not homophobic. Even if I use a homophobic term, I'm not homophobic."

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