Lennox Lewis trainer Enamuel Steward doesn't envy Mike Tyson Trainer Ronnie Shields. "Shields has gone into a really bad situation," said Steward. "He has gone into a training camp that is just full of trouble. It is a camp with a lot of internal fights, especially with the trainer."
"Shields is very upset with this because they (Tyson�s handlers) did not move him into the head trainer position as they promised him. He is the only one that Tyson has been continually loyal to. Shields has been brought in as a confidence booster."
"Shields has been in the corner, and seen what Lewis can do when he wants to be a technical boxer or a big bully. So, he saw the fury of Lewis twice. Shields can do what he wants, but I do not think it will be enough. He is going to have enough problems with the fighting inside camp."
May 9, 2002
By
Dave Desrocher
Ronnie Shields, the trainer who helped guide Vernon Forrest to victory over Shane Mosley earlier this year, now faces the tough challenge of preparing Mike Tyson for his monumental June 8th showdown with Lennox Lewis. Today, Shields and co-trainer Stacey McKinley met with the press to discuss the status of training camp. Both men agreed that Tyson is at the top of his game. "Tyson is the best fighter in the world today," said Shields. "That is without a doubt."
"Mike Tyson is training very hard for this fight," Shields said. "It's an honor to be in camp with a fighter like Mike Tyson." Recently, it was suggested by Emanuel Steward that Shields had come into a bad situation with Tyson. Shields disputed that claim. "Emanuel is trying to create trouble," he said. "When I came here everyone had open arms. Everything has been great. I came in to a very good situation." McKinley strongly and eloquently agreed. "Any talk that there is dissention in this camp is bullshit," he said.
Not only are the co-trainers happy, but apparently Mike Tyson himself is pleased with the situation. "Mike's in great spirits," McKinley said. "He's happy with his camp. He likes his team." It appears that everyone is happy on Team Tyson with the exception of a few battered sparring partners. Shields admitted that they have gone through six sparring partners and are left with two, though he would not discuss the number of rounds that Tyson has sparred thus far in training. One thing is certain, there is much more sparring to come for Tyson. The trainers stated that they will likely go through at least 10 to 13 sparring partners between now and fight time.
Shields defined the overall objective of the camp with no uncertain terms. "To get Tyson back to where he belongs," he said. "Back at the top as heavyweight champion." And Mike Tyson is apparently not just along for the ride this time, but is inspired to beat Lennox Lewis on June 8th. According to McKinley, Tyson recently confessed that he quit fighting 10 years ago, but is once again ready to fight. Asked to explain that comment, and McKinley suggested that Tyson's heart was not in his fights over the past 10 years the way that it is today.
As for Tyson's opponent, both trainers see plenty of chinks in the armor of Lennox Lewis, though they both acknowledge that Lewis is a good fighter. "Lennox is a good fighter," Shields said. "Tyson is a great fighter. It's not good versus evil. It's good versus great." According to Shields, Lewis lacks the "killer instinct" necessary to be in the ring with Tyson, pointing to the fact that Lewis had Tua hurt in their bout, but did not move in to finish his opponent. McKinley went on to say that Lennox Lewis "does not have the power and does not have the heart" to be in the ring with Mike Tyson.
Though Lewis is a favorite in the fight, Shields doesn't see it that way. Asked if he thought that Tyson could return to the top by pulling off the upset against Lewis, and Shields refused to refer to it as an upset if Tyson won. "I wouldn't call it an upset in my eyes. For me personally, Mike is at the top of his game, and when you're at the top of your game, you can beat anyone in the world." Both men promise that Tyson will throw combinations and use his speed to his advantage. It is his speed that most impresses Shields. "It's unbelievable how fast he is," said Shields. "The speed and the power. It's unbelievable." Shields called Tyson a very intelligent fighter. Stacey lavished the ultimate praises on Tyson, referring to him as the "Tiger Woods, the Jack Nicklaus, the Secretariat" of boxing.
McKinley
wants more than just a win over Lennox Lewis. He insists that Tyson break
something on the champion, though apparently he doesn't have any preferences.
"Break some bones, break his jaw, his vertebrae. I like to see Mike
break some bones." In less than a month, Tyson will get his chance.
As to each trainer's prediction for the fight, Shields stated: "Mike
Tyson's going to knock him out. It's as simple as that." McKinley
was equally direct. He said to let Lennox Lewis know that "all hell
is coming."