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Ring leader

Lewis talks about facing Tua

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Lennox Lewis provides a long-winded response when Nick Charles asks for a prediction. CNNSI.com

It's an easy guess that heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis of Britain has Mike Tyson of the U.S. on his mind. But first there's New Zealand's David Tua to contend with Saturday night for Lewis' WBC-IBF heavyweight titles. Lewis was interviewed by CNNSI.com's Nick Charles who will be in Las Vegas to cover the fight.

Nick Charles: Lennox, David Tua is the number one contender for good reason. What specifically makes him a serious threat to your title?

Lennox Lewis: Just the fact that he's got a great record. He's knocked out basically everybody he's stepped in the ring with. And he's been a patient number one challenger.

Charles: He fights with great intensity. He doesn't wear out and he carries his home run power into the late rounds. How will you control the pace of this fight?

Lewis: Definitely with my left jab. He's never been in with a boxer such as me. So he has to be able to contend with me. I'm going to control the pace of the fight. He's in my ring.

Charles: You're brimming with confidence. Tell me then Lennox, what are you going to do when you get Mike Tyson in the ring?

Lewis: Knock him out, simple as that. This is why I want him in the ring. But first I have to take care of David Tua and then think about Mike Tyson.

Charles: As you have indicated, whatever it takes to win you are going to beat David Tua. You can outbox him, but if you get in a firefight you can out slug him. He's got a devastating left, you've got a great right hand. Gibe me some specifics. Give me a prediction. What's going to happen?

Lewis: You know in some ways I don't think it's going to be that explosive because David Tua is going to be trying to get in what everybody else has been trying to do since the beginning of my career and to no avail. Evander Holyfield wasn't able to do it. Who is David Tua? Who has he boxed to prepare for Lennox Lewis? Nobody. So we're going to have to see as soon as he gets in there. He's coming in with a lot of hype. His manager is hyping him up, his promoter is hyping him up. But being in the ring is a different story. This is a major fight for him and I would say his first major fight. I've been through at least 15 major fights, so this is not a hard fight and situation for me. It's going to be a hard situation for him.

Charles: Lennox Lewis, best of luck. We'll see you in Las Vegas.

Lewis: Thank you.

 

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