By Mark Staniforth, PA Sport
Lennox Lewis has vowed to out-blast 'Iron Mike' when he ends his six-year British boxing exile on July 15 at London Arena.
Lewis defends his world titles against South African Frans Botha just over three weeks after Mike Tyson's scheduled appearance in Scotland.
Botha was blown away by Tyson in round five in January last year - and Lewis intends to underline his heavyweight dominance with a bigger and better win against the former world title challenger.
"I want to get him out of there a lot sooner," said Lewis. "We're in an ego sport and I've got a big ego. I'm out to break all records."
Six years and 12 fights have passed since Lewis' last fight in Britain, when he lost his WBC title to Oliver McCall at Wembley Arena.
In that time Lewis has avenged the only loss of his 38-fight career and firmly established himself as the world's premier heavyweight, while Tyson's spells of enforced inactivity have left the former champion a fading force.
The Tyson fight Lewis would like may never come off, so he must be content with beating the best available challengers.
For what it is worth, he will put three belts - those of the WBC, IBF and IBO - on the line against his 31-year-old opponent.
Botha has lost two of his 44 fights, including the stoppage by Tyson when he was ahead on all three of the judges' scorecards.
He is having his first-ever fight in Britain and promises Lewis he will not have a happy homecoming.
"Lightning might strike twice. I recall Oliver McCall coming here and winning," said Botha.
"Lennox Lewis is a great champion but I never stand back. I come to fight and that's exactly what I will do on July 15."
In truth Botha is a fading force, but with the glaring lack of credible challengers following Lewis' two-round demolition of Michael Grant - the man commonly regarded as second best - on April 29, he is the best and some would say only available option.
And as was the case for Tyson's visit to Manchester in January, for most of the fans who have snapped up all tickets up to �150 within two days of going on sale the opponent is an irrelevance.
Lewis could be fighting Pik Botha and they would still break the bank to see Britain's world champion in action.
But Lewis is happier away from the limelight, perfectly content to let Tyson hog the headlines.
He said: "People see me all the time. They look on Tyson as a novelty. They want to see who he is, this man who fights people, who's been in jail.
"As far as his reception is concerned, I can understand it. But that's all hype anyway. I'm into realism."
Botha can, at least, be relied upon to provide a better fight than Julius Francis managed to in Manchester. He is an aggressive fighter, constantly on the front foot, but he does not possess a strong punch.
"This is going to be a different kind of fight," said Lewis.
"Frans Botha has got big boxing talent and a lot of heart. But you need more than heart to box Lennox Lewis. Whatever it takes at the time to beat that certain style, Lennox can switch and beat that style."
Botha got the verdict against Axel Schulz in Germany in 1995 for the IBF title but after winning the result was changed to a no-contest when he tested positive for anabolic steroids. He was then stopped by Michael Moorer in the last round of an IBF title challenge.
His British promoter Frank Warren said: "Today is a big mistake for Lennox Lewis. Frans Botha has a big heart, he gives his all and I believe he is so inspired for this fight that he will pull off a big upset."
By Mark Staniforth, PA Sport
Catch him while you can. Lennox Lewis admits his world heavyweight title defence against Frans Botha in London on July 15 will "probably" be his last fight in this country before he retires.
Lewis returns a full six years after his last fight in Britain when he suffered the only loss of his career to Oliver McCall at Wembley Arena.
"It's great to be back and give British fans a chance to see Lennox Lewis showcased in action," he said on Friday.
Then Lewis, 34, will go back across the Atlantic and try to land the one fight he still wants: Mike Tyson.
Lewis knows his deserved place as the best heavyweight of his generation will not be universally accepted until he has disposed of Tyson - who will fight in Britain just three weeks before Lewis' Wembley Arena date.
But Lewis will be nothing more than a vaguely interested spectator when Tyson fights Lou Savarese, almost certainly at Hampden Park in Glasgow.
A fiercely private man, he will not feel in the least bit jealous at the frenzy he sees in Scotland.
"Tyson hasn't been (much) over here," he said.
"People see me all the time. They look on Tyson as a novelty. They want to see who is this man who fights people, who's been in jail, who everyone's talking about.
"They've only ever seen him on TV. As far as his reception goes, I can understand it. That's all hype anyway. I'm into realism."
The reality is that Lewis, having disposed of Michael Grant - the man widely regarded as the number two - at the end of April is running short on credible challengers.
Lewis will not wait for Tyson for long. In the meantime he should have few problems disposing of 31-year-old Botha.
The South African has fought twice for the IBF version of the world title - winning it against Axel Schulz before he was stripped for failing a drugs test, and losing in the last round to Michael Moorer in 1996.
He is the best of the available opponents for Lewis, guaranteeing as he does an aggressive fight but lacking the punch to severely test the champion.
"I like the fight because of his speed," said Lewis.
"He's not going to go over with one punch."
Lewis, though, admits he is anxious to dispose of Botha in more comprehensive fashion than did Tyson in January last year. Then, Botha was ahead on all three judges' scorecards before walking into a big right hand in round five.
"I want to get him out of there a lot sooner," said Lewis.
"We're in an ego sport, and I've got a big ego. I'm out to break all records."
Like Lewis, Botha - who has drawn with former Lewis victim Shannon Briggs and engaged in another useless one-round knockout since his Tyson defeat - wants Tyson too.
Incredibly he claims Lewis is merely "a stepping stone to the real man".
"Lightning might strike twice," Botha said, referring to Lewis' second-round loss to McCall.
"Lennox Lewis is a great champion, but I never stand back. I come to fight, and that's exactly what I will do on July 15."
Lewis, whether he likes it or not, has sufficiently raised his profile to surround himself with a little piece of frenzy himself.
Just two days after tickets went on sale for the fight, which will begin at 11pm British time, all those up to �150 have already sold out.
