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Celebrities hit town for fight Posted: Friday June 07, 2002 11:23 PMMEMPHIS, Tenn. (Reuters) -- With Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson cloistered away 24 hours ahead of their world title fight, Hollywood heavyweights stole the spotlight on Friday as they flocked to the home of the blues. The allure and mystic of a heavyweight title fight has attracted an A list of Hollywood and sporting celebrities to the banks of the Mississippi, their entourages taking over entire hotels, restaurants and bars along the city's most famous avenue -- Beale Street. Actors Tom Cruise and Richard Gere have been sighted, while Oscar winners Denzel Washington and Halle Berry and pop star Britney Spears are also expected in town. Spears, Berry, Evander Holyfield and wrestling champion "the Rock" will host a pre-fight party where tickets will cost up to $800. Actors Clint Eastwood, Ben Affleck and Leonardo Di Caprio are also expected along with rapper LL Cool J and pop star Michael Jackson. Leroy Neiman is in Memphis to paint the fight while cameramen from the Jay Leno TV show were stationed at Graceland looking for humorous interviews. The Memphis Convention Center says that hotels in the city are completely booked, forcing some celebrities to go to some of the casinos in nearby Tunica, Miss. Sam's Town casino, which has served as Lewis's training headquarters, has all 850 rooms booked this weekend. The celebrity scene is expected to move into top gear on Saturday with MTV and HBO both hosting glitzy pre-fight parties. Playboy owner Hugh Hefner and a host of Bunnies are also rumored to be in town hosting a pajama party at an unconfirmed location.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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