madjack
29-05-2002, 12:29 AM
Our 'Enery backs Lewis
From our wire services
28may02
News Interactive
LONDON: British heavyweight great Henry Cooper has backed compatriot Lennox Lewis to beat Mike Tyson when the pair meet on Sunday week.
"I'm sure Lennox will have trained hard for this one and as long as he isn't too heavy he should have too much for Tyson," said Cooper of the Memphis bout where Lewis puts his three versions of the world title on the line.
"Some big heavyweights have problems dealing with smaller fighters but Lewis showed against David Tua that he has the style to deal with a shorter guy like Tyson," Cooper added.
He also dismissed suggestions from the American's camp that Tyson is back on top form
"We've heard it all before about the 'new' Mike Tyson and how he's back to his best in training," declared Cooper, a former British, Commonwealth and European champion.
"But when he starts biting people in and out of the ring, he's telling me that he doesn't want to be in there boxing any more.
"Tyson was a great fighter before he went in prison but the three years he lost in there would have been his best days.
"You can't get that back and he's never been the same fighter since coming out, so why should it all change now.
"Obviously he'll be dangerous for a couple of rounds as he still throws those bombs and the last thing you lose is your punch.
"But the old Tyson used to throw those punches and then move his hips to avoid anything coming back – now he's too static and Lewis should pick him off with ease.
"Lewis has the skill to keep Tyson on the end of his ramrod jab and then start offloading a few big left and right hooks as the fight goes on.
"If he does that, and he keeps his concentration, I fancy him to do the business against Tyson.
"If Lennox sends Tyson off into retirement, and he does it in style, he'll be remembered for ever for this fight," said Cooper.
"But if the bout descends into another farce like Tyson versus Holyfield, it could kill off boxing for good."
Despite not having boxed for more than 30 years, Cooper remains a British national hero.
The Londoner's place in sporting history was secured with the punch that knocked down Muhammad Ali, then Cassius Clay, in 1963 at Wembley, the first time the American had been floored in a professional contest.
Ali had valuable extra recovery after an extended break between rounds because of a split in his glove deliberately made by trainer Angelo Dundee.
But Cooper lost the fight on a stoppage for a cut eye.
He fought Ali again three years later, this time for the world title, at Arsenal Football Club's Highbury Stadium in north London.
However, it was a similar result, Cooper stopped on cuts in the sixth round.
From our wire services
28may02
News Interactive
LONDON: British heavyweight great Henry Cooper has backed compatriot Lennox Lewis to beat Mike Tyson when the pair meet on Sunday week.
"I'm sure Lennox will have trained hard for this one and as long as he isn't too heavy he should have too much for Tyson," said Cooper of the Memphis bout where Lewis puts his three versions of the world title on the line.
"Some big heavyweights have problems dealing with smaller fighters but Lewis showed against David Tua that he has the style to deal with a shorter guy like Tyson," Cooper added.
He also dismissed suggestions from the American's camp that Tyson is back on top form
"We've heard it all before about the 'new' Mike Tyson and how he's back to his best in training," declared Cooper, a former British, Commonwealth and European champion.
"But when he starts biting people in and out of the ring, he's telling me that he doesn't want to be in there boxing any more.
"Tyson was a great fighter before he went in prison but the three years he lost in there would have been his best days.
"You can't get that back and he's never been the same fighter since coming out, so why should it all change now.
"Obviously he'll be dangerous for a couple of rounds as he still throws those bombs and the last thing you lose is your punch.
"But the old Tyson used to throw those punches and then move his hips to avoid anything coming back – now he's too static and Lewis should pick him off with ease.
"Lewis has the skill to keep Tyson on the end of his ramrod jab and then start offloading a few big left and right hooks as the fight goes on.
"If he does that, and he keeps his concentration, I fancy him to do the business against Tyson.
"If Lennox sends Tyson off into retirement, and he does it in style, he'll be remembered for ever for this fight," said Cooper.
"But if the bout descends into another farce like Tyson versus Holyfield, it could kill off boxing for good."
Despite not having boxed for more than 30 years, Cooper remains a British national hero.
The Londoner's place in sporting history was secured with the punch that knocked down Muhammad Ali, then Cassius Clay, in 1963 at Wembley, the first time the American had been floored in a professional contest.
Ali had valuable extra recovery after an extended break between rounds because of a split in his glove deliberately made by trainer Angelo Dundee.
But Cooper lost the fight on a stoppage for a cut eye.
He fought Ali again three years later, this time for the world title, at Arsenal Football Club's Highbury Stadium in north London.
However, it was a similar result, Cooper stopped on cuts in the sixth round.