 A roundup of proclamations, predictions and perspectives from boxing insiders on
the upcoming Lewis-Tyson fight.
Compiled by Evan Kanew, Special to
CNNSI.com
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"When Lennox feels that he's fighting a fighter that's a danger and
threatening to him, he becomes very dangerous. He wants to knock them out early.
In Mike Tyson, Lennox realizes he's fighting a good fighter and a dangerous
fighter and a fighter who could give him the credibility and a stamp of approval
in his legacy."
Lewis' trainer Emanuel Steward
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"This fight will make Mike Tyson undoubtedly the greatest heavyweight
champion that ever lived. Not only the youngest, but the greatest that ever
lived, surpassing Muhammad Ali and Joe Louis."
Tyson's cornerman Stacey McKinley
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"I think the defeat by [Hasim] Rahman in their first fight was a wake-up
call for Lewis. Tyson is someone who can beat Lewis if Lennox plays around with
that old cautious style. Lewis has to jab a few times and then go for the
knockout as he did with Andrew Golota and Rahman. Lewis does not have to be
cautious against anyone. Lewis is an excellent boxer, the best since Ali
himself."
Former heavyweight champion George
Foreman
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"As I see it: Tyson doesn't rank in the top 10 all time. His thrilling run
through the heavyweight division ended at the tender age of 23 and he's been
utterly ordinary ever since. And, again, who has he beaten? No one worth
mentioning."
Los Angeles Daily News boxing columnist Michael Rosenthal
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"Lennox had a period of being gun shy after he got knocked out by Oliver
McCall, but I think that he's past that now. Don't forget, Frank Bruno was a
performer. He did the pantomimes. Lewis is not a natural performer. What you see
is what you get."
London Daily Mail boxing writer Jeff
Powell
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"What nobody understands is [Tyson] became the youngest heavyweight
champion of all time, he also became the youngest heavyweight champion ever to
lose his championship."
Boxing historian Bert Sugar
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"Less than two weeks before one of the biggest fights in history, promoters
are holding their breath. They know better than anyone that until Tyson actually
appears in the ring, nothing is a safe bet. Even then, it's a
crapshoot."
Associated Press boxing writer Tim
Dahlberg
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"Tyson's an intimidating man. I don't care what anybody says, I think
Lennox would be wise to be careful in the first round. The question is, Can
Lennox intimidate Mike? That's the fascinating thing about this fight."
Boxing trainer Roger Bloodworth
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"I think it's a sort of sad demise of a guy who could have been a lot more
than he ever became. Tyson will be remembered for the circus. He's not going to
be remembered for the animal acts, for instance, he's going to be remembered for
the clown
acts."
Boston Globe boxing writer Ron Borges
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"I believe that Mike Tyson is the best of his time. I believe that Lennox
Lewis is the best of his time, the one and only champion today. I also believe
that Mike Tyson needs Lennox Lewis and Lennox Lewis needs Mike
Tyson."
WBC president Jose Sulaiman
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"I don't believe in good versus evil. Lennox Lewis is a human being the
same way that Mike Tyson is. But I think if Tyson wins it sends a bad message
that you can be a punk -- that you can tell the world to go take a flying leap
and good things can still happen to you. And I don't think that's a message I
want to send to my kids."
Boxing journalist Wallace Matthews
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"Memphis, Tenn. will play host to what has been billed as one of the
biggest heavyweight fights in history Saturday -- except that when the hype is
peeled away it becomes more like a 'Legends of Boxing' match than a super
fight."
Washington Times boxing writer Thom Loverro
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CNN sports producer Evan Kanew will cover the Tyson-Lewis fight for
CNNSI.com.
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