(His expectations may be very true come fight night)
By Flattop
Few people (if anyone) know more about the fight game than legendary trainer and HBO fight analyst
Emanuel Steward. Steward was kind enough to take time out from preparing heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis for
his clash against #1 contender David Tua, and share his thoughts on the biggest heavyweight fight of the year with
Fightnews.com readers.
What is the biggest danger Lennox faces Saturday night? The danger comes with fighting a puncher like David Tua. Tua is a
legitimate puncher with both hands. David has a good defense and he is going to be around for a few rounds. Lennox
needs to come in and establish himself and not allow David to fight inside. David has a solid chin and his defense
allows him to be around longer than most fighters his size would last against a big man like Lennox. David has
prepared extremely well. He does not take Lennox lightly and Lennox is not looking past David.
Do you consider Tua to be the biggest challenge for Lennox in the division?
Right now David is the only challenge. I think David's record is reflective of his status. The big difference
is the class of opponents. Lennox knocked out Michael Grant and Francois Botha; before that he fought Evander
Holyfield twice. Tua beat Gary Bell, Obed Sullivan and Carl Daniels. Lennox has been fighting at a world-class
level while David has not.
What kind of ending are you anticipating? It is going to be exciting fight. I think the power punches from both
fighters will determine the outcome. Both fighters are coming off of quick, explosive knockouts. I don't see
why Lennox or David would fight any other way.
Tua has a good chin. He may be able to withstand some of Lennox's heavy blows and force Lennox
into new territory, which will create some exciting moments.
What is the strategy of Lewis? Lennox wants to get you out of there as quickly as possible. Lennox is still a calculating perfectionist in
the ring but now he has an aggressive nature. This is my sixth year with Lennox and he is starting to show all
of his natural ability.
Tua is the most dangerous fighter Lennox has fought. David is going to force the fight and force
Lennox into some explosive situations. Tua wants to be inside and there's a price to pay if you get inside with
Lewis. Lennox and David can punch with both hands. It will be an explosive ending.
Is the heavyweight of the future going to have a skyscraper physique? It depends on how you train your fighter. Big guys don't always have the balance, the coordination of Lennox.
Look at Lance Whitaker and Michael Grant. Most big guys don't have the coordination. I just brought it out in
Lennox.
Is the "one-punch" knockout power of enough for Tua to beat Lennox? It could be enough. Remember Iran Barkley. (see Barkley vs. Hearns, June 6, 1988, for the WBC middleweight
belt). I have been around some punchers and one punch is all it takes sometimes.
What about a Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis fight?
That is the fight everybody wants to see. That fight is desired more than any other match-up out there but Mike
Tyson does not want the fight. It is not about HBO or Showtime saying Mike cannot fight Lennox; it is about Mike
Tyson not wanting to fight Lennox.
Mike has had several opportunities to fight Lennox. Mike passed up the chance to fight Lennox before
and after the Grant and Botha fights.
After Tyson fight with Savarese, he said he wanted to eat the children of Lennox Lewis but then
he turned right around and said he needed more fights before fighting a "great champion like Lennox Lewis."
I don't think Mike really wants to fight Lennox. It would expose the vulnerabilities of Mike Tyson to the world
and I think that is something Mike is not ready for.
Tua is a bigger threat than Tyson. Tua brings more credentials. Tyson would be just an ordinary fighter, not
the potential of David Tua.
Speaking of Tyson, what did you think of Tyson-Golota fight? What else can you expect when you bring in two guys who are known for unusual? Tyson had one fight where his
opponent had an advertisement on the bottom of his shoes (Julius Francis). You look at his Norris fight when he
hit Norris after the bell and Norris quit. I think Norris faked it. The people were robbed. Savarese was never
up to par for a Mike Tyson. That was another aborted ending. That is the norm for Mike Tyson.
Look at his last fight with Golota. Golota quit. Golota did the same thing with Lennox. I will
give Tyson credit. He fought a clean fight. Maybe this fight qualified him to fight Lennox.
You mean a Lewis-Tyson fight is a possibility? Mike did nothing to tarnish himself in the last fight. Tyson has a puncher's chance but his defense is not
as good as Tua. Mike is strictly a power-puncher and his biggest asset is his tremendous one-punch knockout ability.
Mike Tyson is the fight Lennox wants and it is the fight the boxing fans want. I feel we owe it
to the public.
Is Lennox in his prime?
I think Lennox is right at the brink of becoming one of the greatest
heavyweights. There is more to come. I think Lewis has to be considered, along with George Foreman and Sonny
Liston, as one of the three strongest fighters in the heavyweight division in the last 50 years. Lennox has more
natural ability than any other heavyweight.
