|
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE
|  |
Hair-alded fight Locks, soft spikes among many issues at news conference
LAS VEGAS -- Usually one of the most dreadfully predictable media events of any fight week is the final news conference. Wednesday, though, was different for several reasons, beginning at the top -- of each fighter's head. One of the chief topics of the Lennox Lewis-David Tua fight this week has been a fascination with both guys' hairstyles and whether they could alter the outcome. Tua's people were concerned about Lewis' dreadlocks becoming a deadly weapon and hitting their guy in the face during the fight, while the champion's corner viewed Tua's "volcanic spike" as a potential deadly weapon. Remarkably, the ringside physician for the fight, Dr. Flip Homansky, told me he actually had to examine both guys' hair and found that Tua's was soft and cuddly and Lewis' posed no serious threat to injury. That out of the way, I spoke with both fighters and their trainers. Lewis told me he's in the best shape of his life and his trainer Emmanuel Steward added that they know Tua will come in the same way and that he respects the fact that the challenger is dead fit and mentally ready to put on the fight of his life. Talking to Tua, it's obvious at least for now that he is. I spent a day this past week watching him train and it was apparent he's pushed himself through many pain barriers to be at his best. 
As for the mental part, I've seen good fighters lock up once they take that long walk from the dressing room to the ring and realize fighting for the title is pressure they just weren't ready to conquer. At the moment, Tua is showing no signs of "freezing" and clearly enjoyed his time in front of the media again Wednesday. He even brought out the best in Lewis, who was forced to respond to the challenger's engaging, easy style. Tua's trainer, Ronnie Shields, told me he's concerned with Lewis holding and hitting illegally the way the champion did when he flattened Michael Grant this past spring. Tua's manager, Kevin Barry, a former fighter best known for winning a silver medal at the 1984 Olympics when Evander Holyfield was disqualified for hitting him after the bell, told me if Lewis tries to hold and shove the shorter Tua's head down, the challenger has a counter move in store that will put a stop to those tactics. While both Lewis and Tua are devastating punchers, the key to this fight is where it takes place. If the shorter Tua is stuck outside at the end of Lewis' jab, it'll be an easy night for the champion. However, if Tua gets inside and violates Lewis' space without getting tagged and forces him to fight, the outcome could be radically different. Remember these two words: Outside. Inside. It will determine the winner. Nick Charles is a senior correspondent for CNN/Sports Illustrated and a regular contributor to CNNSI.com. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the writer.
| ||||||||||||||||||||
