Lewis and Tyson camps ready to negotiate

Associated Press LONDON – Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson say they're ready to stop blustering and start negotiating for a heavyweight showdown this year.

The two fighters issued a joint statement Thursday pledging to end their public posturing and make the multi-million-dollar fight the boxing world wants to see.

"We are both aware that the public eagerly awaits a championship bout between us," the statement said. "It is the bout we both want. We both expect that it will be finalized soon."

Lewis is the reigning World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation champion. Tyson is the former undisputed champ and leading contender.

"We are pleased to inform the world that talks have begun between representatives of our two camps to make a Lewis-Tyson championship bout a reality this year," the statement said.

"Both camps pledge to work in good faith to finalize this deal. However, we both have interim fights that we are focusing on. We expect to begin negotiations thereafter.

"We ask the press to understand that we cannot negotiate in the media. We have both agreed not to posture or comment on the details of the negotiations."

The fighters said further joint statements will be issued on the progress of the talks.

Lewis is currently training for a fight against Hasim Rahman in Johannesburg, South Africa, on April 21. Tyson has a May 19 fight date with David Izon penciled in as his opponent.

The big hang-up is that both fighters are signed with competing American networks. Tyson fights on Showtime, while Lewis is on HBO. So far, neither network has shown any inclination to make a deal that would allow Lewis and Tyson to meet.

Both sides have accused each other of ducking the fight.

On Monday, Lewis was quoted in the Daily Mail as dismissing the possibility of fighting Tyson any time soon.

"There's no chance of it taking place in the foreseeable future," he was quoted as saying. "I'm fed up with Mike and his manager Shelley Finkel pretending that I'm the one who doesn't really want the fight. I want to put the real position on record.

"They are the one who keep messing me about and keeping me waiting. Then they blame me for taking other fights I need to keep in shape."

Lewis' business manager, Adrian Ogun, said recently the fight could take place as early as July 21.


McCallum picks Tyson to beat Lewis

March 9, 2001 - By Paul Upham: Three-time world champion Mike "The Bodysnatcher" McCallum believes that Mike Tyson will defeat Lennox Lewis if their highly anticipated clash ever takes place.

"Mike will knock him out. Mike has got too much speed. Not only that, he punches so hard," said McCallum (pictured). " Lewis is a good fighter. He is tall but he has no chin. Anytime he gets hit on the chin, that's it. He's good, he's rangy and he avoids getting hit on the chin very well. But anytime he gets hit on the chin, he's hurt."

Having said that McCallum, has a lot of respect for Lewis, but feels that Tyson's style is perfect for stopping the undisputed heavyweight champion. "He's naturally a good fighter and has a good jab. He is tall and he uses his range very well. Styles make fights. Lennox Lewis could beat any fighter, but I think the style Mike has can beat Lennox. He is fierce and he punches hard from all angles, very quickly. That is what will allow Mike to win."

After competing at the 1976 Olympic Games for his native Jamaica, McCallum moved to New York, USA, in 1981, to commence his professional boxing career. Finishing with a 49-5-1 (36) record, McCallum held the WBA jr middleweight, WBA middleweight and WBC light-heavyweight titles.

McCallum's record includes wins over Steve Collins, Sumbu Kalambay and Donald Curry. "I would have liked fights with Leonard, Hagler and Hearns. There was a lot of politics. I was trying to match Thomas Hearns, but they all wanted to fight each other and make more money."

McCallum defeated Australian Jeff Harding to win the WBC 175lbs title in 1992 and says, "I caught Jeff at the right time. He hadn't fought for 20 months. He was kind of rusty. Jeff is like a roller coaster in and out of the ring. He will steamroller you. He's a good man."

McCallum's final world title fight was a 12-round points loss to Roy Jones Jr. in November 1996. A fight that he would have preferred earlier in his career. "I would have loved to have fought him earlier. Roy is a great fighter. He is a good technician and he is smart. Had I been younger, it would have been totally different."

McCallum resides in Las Vegas and spends time with Mike Tyson whom he has known for many years and first met in New York before Tyson became world champion. Over a long career, McCallum has seen boxing change and says that the fighters don't train as hard now, relying more on skill.

"It is more technical now. Even before our time, fighters trained for hours and hours." McCallum looks back on his career with pride, "I have had a lot of good years and I enjoyed it all."

END