SCOTRUN, Pa. (June 29, 2000 7:46 p.m. EDT http://www.sportserver.com) - Lennox Lewis is preparing for a heavyweight championship fight with Francois Botha. His attention, however, has been diverted to a possible bout with Mike Tyson.
Lewis even had a recent dream about Tyson.
"In my dream, Tyson was obviously disqualified," Lewis said Thursday. "He was disqualified because he just didn't listen."
Lewis was a bit distressed about Tyson's recent disparaging remarks about him after a first-round knockout of Lou Savarese.
"Hearing the statements that he wants to eat my heart and eat my children kind of confuses me because I thought he was a vegetarian," Lewis said lightly. "It was a preposterous statement.
"But before he has a chance to eat me, he has to eat my left and right crosses."
Lewis (36-1-1) held a news conference during his training sessions at Caesar's Pocono resort in preparation for his fight with Botha (40-2-1) at England's Wembley Stadium on July 15.
Lewis, who retained the WBC and IBF titles with a second-round knockout of Michael Grant at Madison Square Garden on April 29, realizes the urgency to prepare properly for his upcoming fight.
"I know I have to stay focused for the Botha fight," Lewis said. "In lieu of questions about the other guy (Tyson), I have Botha on my mind."
It will also be Lewis' first title defense and his first fight in his native country since he was stopped by Oliver McCall in the second round on Sept. 24, 1994.
"I feel great about it," Lewis said. "It's like going away and climbing to the mountain to achieve all my goals, and then returning home as a true champion. This is an opportunity for people to finally see me. I'm expecting an electrifying environment."
Lewis was not impressed with Tyson's recent 38-second knockout of Savarese.
"I have seen him (Savarese) against Grant, and he was in better shape," Lewis said. "Against Tyson he looked like he had a little pot belly, and he didn't seem like he was there to win. But he seemed like he was there to receive a quality punch, take his money and go home."
Lewis couldn't recall when he released any negative emotions in public after a fight like Tyson's outrage after his victory over Savarese.
"I've only done it in a positive sense," Lewis said. "But I couldn't see what reason Tyson could have been so hyped about.
"He only had Lou Savarese in front of him. If he had anyone who could have thrown a punch in front of him, I doubt if he would have gone off the same way."
Lewis and his handlers believe Tyson doesn't really want to fight him, but Lewis won't hesitate to get the proposed fight in motion.
"I would give up my IBF belt now, and let's get it on," Lewis stressed. "But he is scared of me."
With the added talk of Tyson, Lewis has learned to deal with it.
"It has been kind of distracting in a way," Lewis said. "I'm concentrating on Botha, but most of the questions are about Tyson."
Lewis is scheduled to meet David Tua around November, but he hasn't ruled out a fight with Tyson. Lewis is currently under contract with Home Box Office while Tyson is under contract with Showtime.
What will it take to get the fight done?
"Money resolves everything," Lewis said with a smile. "I'll definitely take David Tua out easily. Tua can't handle me. I'll give up one of my belts to Tua to fight Tyson."
Whenever the Tyson fight happens, Lewis has specific plans in mind.
"I will put him away," Lewis said. "But first Botha and then Tyson if he is serious. Putting Tyson away is very important to me. Tyson is like a train wreck waiting to happen."
Emanuel Steward, Lewis' trainer, echoed those thoughts.
"I believe Mike Tyson is afraid of Lennox Lewis," Steward said. "Lennox is a big thorn in his side and he is driving him crazy."