Speedbag to mailbag

All this pre-fight chatter, Mike Tyson’s threat to crush skulls and such, seems to have riled the emotions of the ex-champ’s fans and Lennox Lewis followers. Folks are also weighing in on Elvis’ beloved Memphis.

So before the bad boys come to blows, let’s head to the Mailbag.

Lewis is going to destroy him because Tyson has hardly fought in the last seven years. Add this to the fact that he has hardly trained and he’s also been living an unhealthy lifestyle, and you end up with a fighter that can’t be focused 100 percent. -- Robert Nicolson, Aberdeen AB123AX

You’re right about Tyson’s workload, but he has trained seriously for the title shot. And what’s this about unhealthy lifestyle? I’m sure Mike had early lights out when he was doing jail time.

Analysis and Stories  • Lewis KOs Tyson in eighth • Closer Look: Lewis knew after one • Round-by-Round results Mike Fish • Tyson gracious in defeat • Send in the clowns • From speedbag to mailbag • Lewis, Tyson separated at weigh-in • Will Tyson be on his medication? • Memphis throws its hat in the ring • Lewis sticks to low-key approach • Tyson skips news conference • Holyfield says Tyson isn't crazy • Steroids large on boxing's radar Evan Kanew • What next after Tyson-Lewis? • A lowdown on the showdown Richard Hoffer • A true battle of good vs. evil Frank Deford • It's an exhibition, not a contest Tim Layden • Tyson's glimmer of greatness gone Lester Munson • Tyson fighting for more than career SI Features  • On the Record: Potent Quotables • SI Scrapbook: Mike Tyson • SI Photo Gallery: Tyson | Lewis Video Click the image to launch the clip Lennox Lewis reacts to a surprisngly easy win over Mike Tyson Play Video Mike Tyson ponders his next career move after the loss to Lewis. Play Video Other Features  • Official Site: Lewis vs. Tyson

Tyson will demolish this so-called champion who has a glass jaw and tends to drop his hands as the fight goes on. Tyson wins in 3! No need for a rematch the public won't bite! -- Jim Anders

If Mr. Tyson connects, you can bank on a rematch. And plenty of suckers will line up to catch it.

I really think that you went overboard with your characterization of Lewis. You do not become a champ by running scared. You might be confusing being a gentleman with being scared. Lewis is a well-schooled fighter, and he has Emanuel Steward in his corner. I know Emanuel Steward and he would not train a fighter that was running scared. -- B. R. Sickles

Lewis deserves kudos for handling himself with class. Nice touch parading around town with his mom, Violet, too. And Emanuel Steward is the best man in either corner. So take it to him, champ.

As far as everyone saying Lewis has a suspect glass chin [and] being knocked out twice, well then Tyson has a suspect glass chin [and] also he was knocked out twice by Douglas and Holyfield. -- Eugene Schwartz

Sounds like a draw to me. Then again, I’ll give the nod to Buster Douglas-Evander Holyfield over Oliver McCall-Hasim Rahman. Hey, just picture a simultaneous KO. Great theater, huh?

I think Tyson will win by an ear. -- Jeane Corbin

Maybe not. Pre-fight talk sounds like he’s focused south of the border.

Holyfield is crazy! Lennox ain’t scared! Lennox is gonna rip off Tyson’s head and if Tyson even tries to bite Lennox, he’ll go so crazy and probably even give him permanent brain damage. -- Alex

Please, fess up, you’re not really a Lewis fan. You sound like an Iron Mike guy.

The City of Memphis may have a lot a stake, but don't be too worried. Have you ever been to Tunica, Miss.? Casinos stand to make a killing fight week. And, if you think for one second that Memphis officials have received or negotiated some kind of kickbacks, you need to stop drinking so much. The fight is great for the city of Memphis. Let's just hope that the fight is as good as all the hype, which is very unlikely. -- Dan Johnson, Knoxville, Tenn.

Wow, casinos, kickbacks and heavy drinking -- let’s be careful. So far, Memphis has turned in a terrific performance. Let’s just hope the fight and the aftermath isn’t too ugly.

You are having a championship fight, one of the biggest ever, in a town that has never seen an event this big. It boggles my brain why ticket brokers have not hyped the city as well as the fight. You have a city like Memphis, the new store on the block, and you are charging $900 more per ringside seat then you would have to pay in Vegas. Vegas is a five-to-six-hour drive from Los Angeles. Memphis is a three-hour flight from Los Angeles. Would you go shopping at a more expensive store that is further away? The tickets are not selling because Memphians can not afford them, and you are asking the celebrity clients to go further, spend more, in city that they do not know. The ticket brokers should have done a better job hyping not just the fight but the city, too. -- Jason Netschi, Memphis

Don’t blame the ticket brokers, they’ve already taken it on the chin and in the pocketbook.

You conveniently left off so many details in this Memphis-slamming article. You mentioned one of our very few sports-related claims to fame is a NCAA regional. How about the two Final Fours and numerous Sweet 16s by the University of Memphis? You then failed to mention the St. Jude golf tournament, the men’s tennis tournament, which now includes women, and our national reputation for producing great basketball players from our high schools. So what if the Grizzlies are losers for now? I guess every city that has received a losing franchise from another city should apologize. -- Steve Metaxas, Lakeland, Tenn.

Hey, I love this place. But the local sports resume reads like Charlotte, Oklahoma City . . . Louisville.

Memphis has an inferiority complex like you would not believe. The attempts to gain NFL teams surely have not helped. Neither have the various other franchises: XFL, Arena, Canadian, WFL in football. Too many bogus hoop teams to count. But, in spite of this, and mostly due to Mayor Willie Herenton’s third-term leadership, Memphis is stepping up. The people are incredibly hospitable. It is not a myth. -- Rob Cooper, Memphis

You nailed it on all counts, but we’re not qualified to speak about Mr. Mayor. Just glad he had free time to handle emcee duties at the weigh-in.

Mike Fish is a senior writer for CNNSI.com.

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