LONDON (May 18, 2000 3:43 p.m. EDT (http://www.sportserver.com)
- Lennox Lewis' homecoming in July will be England's sole chance of celebrating sporting success this summer, the world heavyweight champion's manager Frank Maloney declared on Thursday.
Maloney, appearing at a first head-to-head between 34-year-old Lewis and next opponent Frans Botha of South Africa, shunned the loud Union Jack suit he regularly wears in the United States but kept the hype turned up.
The fight on July 15 will be Lewis's first in the country of his birth in nearly six years, and will be at the London Arena in the regenerated Docklands area - not far from Lewis's East London roots.
It follows England's appearance in the European soccer championship and comes in the middle of the cricket season.
"This summer we've got a hell of a lot of events," Maloney told a news conference.
"We've got cricket - I don't think we're going to do any good in that. And we've got (England soccer manager) Kevin Keegan telling us we're going to win Euro 2000.
"He'd better wake up to reality.
"It's supposed to be the boxing promoters who give out (b.s.), not football managers. The only real success we're going to have this summer is on the 15th of July, when Lennox Lewis retains his undisputed heavyweight championship.
"It's the only moment the British public can really enjoy themselves. Boxing is a sport that gives us more success, more championships than anything. So we should promote boxing more than we promote soccer," Maloney added.
The fact that Lewis is not in fact the undisputed world champion, having been stripped of the World Boxing Association (WBA) belt in April, was skirted over.
But it remained an irritant.
When Lewis' belts were laid out on display for photographers before the news conference, the champion noticed the WBA belt was among them and grinned. A gentle whisper in someone's ear and the offending item was removed.
The usual niceties between boxing men in sharp suits, sipping hot English tea and assuming refined positions, were soon replaced by fighting talk.
"'The White Buffalo.' May I call you 'The White Buffalo?'" inquired promoter Panos Eliades of Botha as he introduced the strapping white South African contender.
"Sure," replied Botha, without removing his hat or sunglasses.
Botha, who met former champion Mike Tyson last year and led the fight before being caught napping with a fifth round knockout blow, warned Lewis to expect a tough battle.
"I never stand back. I come to fight. That's what I'll do on July 15," said the former Pretoria fireman, who has lost twice in his 44 professional fights.
British promoter Frank Warren, who represents Botha and is also putting on Tyson's next fight, predicted an upset on the night, while Botha's manager Sterling McPherson said the 31-year-old meant business.
"Those who continue to doubt Botha, buckle your seatbelts because you're in for a bumpy ride," he said.
Lewis, who knocked out American Michael Grant in the second round last month, conceded that it was shaping up to be "a different fight" for him and the fans.
"It's gonna be a good fight, a different fight. It isn't going to be one of those fights where you expect Lennox to come out there to knock out the guy straight away," he said.
"He's got some good boxing talent and definitely a big heart. But you're going to need more than heart to box against Lennox Lewis," the Briton said.
Lewis's WBC and IBF titles will be up for grabs and Eliades said tickets were selling fast. All ringside seats, priced at 750 pounds ($1,113) each, were already sold out.
