"It's no secret what I must do," Lewis said. "First I have to beat Rahman
and then I can think about Tyson."
Lewis, who filmed scenes here for the upcoming movie "Oceans Eleven", spoke
Saturday just hours before compatriot "Prince" Naseem Hamed faced Mexico's
Marco Antonio Barrera here in a featherweight showdown.
Lewis will defend his International Boxing Federation and World Boxing
Council crowns April 21 against challenger Rahman with an eye toward a possible
big-money showdown against former champion Tyson later this year.
Tyson, who plans to face Nigerian David Izon in June in either Australia or
Washington, has joined Lewis in saying they will try to make a deal for that
fight before year's end, despite their deals with rival television companies.
Lewis was accompanied in speaking with reporters by his mother, whom he
called the most important member of his team because she does the cooking for
her son when he is away from home training at fight sites.
The 36-year-old British basher is 38-1 with one drawn and 29 knockouts.
"Rock" Rahman, 29, is 34-2 with 28 knockouts and ranked fourth by the IBF.
Their fight will be the first major bout in Africa since 1974, when George
Foreman and Muhammad Ali fought in Kinshasa in what is now the Democratic
Republic of Congo.
Lewis and Ukranian Wladimir Klitschko were here filming a fictional world
heavyweight unification fight that will serve as a major backdrop for the
Hollywood remake of a 1960s film classic that starred Frank Sinatra.
Lewis-Tyson has been a fiction as well, although there has been hope that
near year's end the two will square off in a fight that could net each man 30
million dollars, what could be the richest bout in boxing history.
Rahman, who spoke by satellite from his South African training camp,
predicted an upset triumph, saying "I arrived in South Africa without a crown
and I will leave as a champion."
Lewis responded by saying that "first I will take care of Rahman and then I
will dispose of Tyson."