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The Hot List
CNN/Sports Illustrated's Evan Kanew takes a look at who's hot and who's not in the world of boxing. KNOCKOUTS Hair: Nevada's chief ringside physician actually examined the creative hairdos that will be worn by the hirsute champions in Saturday night's main event. There is a "no-gel" rule in effect. Seriously. The ulafala: The Samoan Chiefs Association granted Tua fans special permission to wear this traditional floral garland on fight night. Foreign press dispatches report that the decorative necklaces -- usually reserved for occasions of great import -- are flying off the shelves in the South Pacific. WBC: Hate to say it, but by elevating Mike Tyson to No. 1 in its rankings -- that is, making him Lewis' next mandatory challenger -- the alphabet banditos from Mexico City may help make this meaningful mega-fight. Clifford Etienne: Six months ago he was an unknown ex-con, living in the back of his trainer's gym and working as Michael Grant's sparring partner. Now, with a couple of respectable wins under his belt, "The Black Rhino" is the top newcomer in the heavyweight division. The World Championship: Historians say Saturday night will mark the first time since the days of John L. Sullivan that two imported heavyweights will meet for the world title in a ring on United States soil -- Lewis is British-born and of Jamaican descent but was raised in Canada; Tua is a Samoan who was raised in New Zealand. An asterisk goes to the 1997 bout between Lewis and Henry Akinwande (a Nigerian-born Brit) which wasn't for the widely recognized "world" title (and wasn't even a fight). BUMS Tyson's retirement: If it sticks, I'llfight Lewis. Alphabet bandits: Not the usual suspects; this time it's TVKO and SET. Their exclusive contracts with Lewis and Tyson, respectively, are the last major obstacle in the way of the fight everyone wants to see. Oscar De La Hoya: No shame in losing tough fights, or in getting out of the fight game with one's wits (and looks) intact. But the Golden Boy's new record album is not exactly going gold in a hurry, and his recent ring absence has fans wondering. Evander Holyfield: Seeks distributor fornew vanity production, a documentary called Champion. Vanity career still going, reportedly headed for, ugh, a rematch with John Ruiz. Predictive poetry: A sample of verse offered by Tua to Lewis: "You're going down in the second or maybe in the third fourth if you're lucky but we all know it's the first." He should stick to the art of coiffure.
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