Official transcript

The following is a full transcript of Larry King's interview with Lennox Lewis which aired Thursday, Jan. 31, 2002 on CNN's "Larry King Live."

Larry King: Good evening. We begin tonight with an exclusive interview with the heavyweight champion of the world, Lennox Lewis. He comes to us from his hometown of London, England. Always great to see him.

Lennox, we all know what's been going on. First, though, right off the top, what did you make of Nevada turning down the licensing of Mike Tyson? Do you agree with that decision?

Lennox Lewis: Well, I have great respect for the Nevada commission. And, I know they're really extensive when they really put him up on the board. And they basically went through everything. So, they're highly reputable, and, I respect the decision.

King: That was a lot of money to you, in that decision that, for the time being, is taken away.

Lewis: Yes. I mean, this is one of life's dramas that happened. It's disappointing. I'm disappointed because I definitely wanted to give Mike Tyson a whipping, but I was disappointed for a lot of fans out there that always stop me on the street and say, 'When are you going to get this fight together? When are we going to see this match-up?' And, for now they're going to just have to wait.

King: Now, we understand that California is now in the picture. That commission meets early next month. They'll hold it at the Staples Center. Would you like to fight him in California?

Lewis: Well, you have to ask Mike Tyson if he wants to fight me, because basically, he doesn't show that he wants to fight me. He attacked at a press conference the other day and then takes a bite out of my leg. So, you have to ask him if he wants to fight me. It doesn't seem like he wants to fight at the moment, so he's doing everything to stop it. But there's, 20 million pounds on the table, and basically he put that at jeopardy.

King: Well, if he does want to fight you, would California be OK to you?

Lewis: Yes. I am willing to fight Mike Tyson. I was always willing to fight Mike Tyson.

King: He says, and his lawyer the other day said, that he was told to come up to confront you, that it was supposed to be a staging of sorts, and that your bodyguard, in fact, stepped in. He could have hit the bodyguard. He didn't. He swung and missed, and then all hell broke loose.

What's your version of events?

Lewis: Well, that definitely wasn't supposed to happen. What was supposed to happen was we were both supposed to go on our podiums and face the crowd and put up our hands.

But as soon as I got on my podium, he basically took off his hat, threw it on the ground, marched over to us, threw a punch and started a ruckus.

King: When did the biting occur?

Lewis: The biting occurred when we were wrestling on the ground. I was really surprised. They asked me if it was Mike Tyson that bit me. And I said, "Well, usually when someone is biting you, you look down and see who is biting you," and it was Mike Tyson.

King: Did you require any kind of a shot after that?

Lewis: Yes, I got a tetanus shot, and I was on some antibiotics.

That's what I say, Lennox Lewis is fighter; Mike Tyson is a biter.

King: The other day Mike called you a coward and said you don't want to fight him. How do you react first, as the heavyweight champion, to being called a coward?

Lewis: Well, that's impossible because, I take on all challengers and, if you want to talk about cowards, he committed a cowardly act, when he started a ruckus at the press conference. And obviously, the word after is that, obviously, he doesn't want this fight to happen.

King: What are your thoughts about this man, Mike Tyson, this puzzle? He's the largest draw in the game, along with you. You could not make any more money than you could make by fighting him.

How do you read him, this complex individual?

Lewis: Well, I look at it like this, you know, the heavyweight belts are made up of all different kinds of boxers. You've got Lennox Lewis, you've got Evander Holyfield, you've got Riddick Bowe. You've got all different types.

And you've got Mike Tyson. And he's just a different, complex individual that makes boxing, exciting to one point, gives it a black eye to another. And this is what makes this sport interesting.

King: So you understand why he's -- "popularity" is the right word. People still want to see him fight; do you agree?

Lewis: Absolutely. They're excited about Mike Tyson just like they're excited about a train wreck. They basically want to see what's going to happen. He's basically made a living out of knocking out people. Now he's going through different antics. And, they basically want to see, who's he going to bite next? What's he going to do? Who is he going to try and elbow?

So, I mean, it gives it a, kind of, dim light, but this is what creates the drama for the public that loves to watch boxing and loves Mike Tyson.

There's a lot of fans out there that love Mike Tyson and a lot of fans that love Lennox Lewis, and they just want to see them match up. And they're excited about, each one of the boxers that they love.

King: So you're saying tonight, you will fight him anywhere this fight is staged?

Lewis: Well, first of all, you have to realize that Mike Tyson needs some help. And I think, he should get the proper help first before he thinks about boxing, because you don't want to step into the ring and all of a sudden it turns into some kind of savage sport.

That's not what I went into boxing for. I went into boxing for the sport of it, for the sweet science. I loved Muhammad Ali. He brought so much to the game.

Now, if you're going against the rules and you're trying to punch somebody low, head butt, break somebody's arm, bite somebody, that just brings a different context to boxing. That's not what I went into boxing for.

King: So since you say he has to get some help, if he doesn't, does that mean April 6 is out?

Lewis: Yes, I think right now April 6 doesn't look too good. And, we're going to have to see what happens. Everything just happened a couple days ago, so I'm going to have to refer it to my people and see what my next step is.

King: So are you saying, even if California were to approve this fight, you still will have to be shown that Mike seeked some helped somewhere before you'll get in the ring with him? I'm just trying to put it all together.

Lewis: Yes. I mean, I don't want to go into the ring with Mike Tyson if it's not a boxing match. If it's just a savage sport where he's trying to bite me, it doesn't make sense to step into the ring with him.

King: So you're going to have to be shown that he is getting that help.

Lewis: Yes. I want to be shown that if he's coming into the ring to fight Lennox Lewis, he has to stick to the rules and try [not to] cheat.

King: Don't you worry -- forgetting the biting aside -- isn't there some concern about how hard he hits? In other words, how do you approach fighting Mike Tyson?

Lewis: Well, I'm a pugilist specialist. I realize that Mike Tyson is a fighter. He only knows one way. That's to come in and try and knock you out. And yes, definitely, he does have a great punch. He still can knock out people, he's still knocking out people right now.

But, I'm not going to allow that to happen to me. I'm going to use all my talents, all my skill and do what comes naturally, and that's to be the greatest boxer that I know I can be.

Lewis: I don't believe Mike Tyson can beat me. I think he's past his prime. I'm the best in the world, and he wants to be where I'm at.

King: Muhammad Ali once told me in one of many interviews he did that when he acted brave and all that and did those poems, he still worried. A smart fighter should always fear the opponent; do you agree with that?

Lewis: I absolutely agree with that. In fact, I've learned my lesson, in Hasim Rahman's first fight, where he was able to throw a terrific punch and knock me out. And, I definitely learned my lesson.

So I know every time I step into the ring, I have to be 100 percent focused, disciplined, and realize that that person over there is trying to reach where I'm at at the moment, trying to get my glory and my crown and my belt.

King: How much longer are you going to keep fighting, Lennox?

Lewis: Well, I say to people, "until I'm satisfied." I'm not satisfied yet, but I'm definitely not getting any younger. So, I'd say there are a couple more fights in me, and then I'll definitely call it a day and do something else.

King: Thanks for sharing this time with us. And again, if Mike Tyson proves to you he's getting some help, you will fight him again, but you want to be sure he is getting that help.

Lewis: Yes, definitely.

King: Thanks so much, Lennox.

The heavyweight champion of the world, from London, England, Lennox Lewis. And the drama goes on.