Lewis and Tua tangle while Tyson lurks

Tyson stopped Andrew Golota last month, leaving the Polish fighter in a hospital with a concussion and broken cheekbone in what Tyson said would be his final fight.

But Tyson dropped by a Lewis workout last week in New York and Lewis figures a big-money title bout will be too much for Tyson to ignore provided dueling pay-per-view television backers can put aside differences to make the fight.

8220;After I dispose of Tua, the opportunity will be there for Tyson,8221; Lewis said. 8220;Right now Tyson is in retirement. But I don8217;t believe he will go out like that.

8220;People around him will talk him into it. There8217;s too much money involved for him not to. If he fights again, I have something to feed him.8221;

He means fists big gloved fists for the man who earlier this year said after a victory in Britain that he would eat Lewis8217; children. Tyson advisor Shelly Finkel said Lewis would face an intimidation factor against Tyson.

8220;The Lennox Lewis that goes into the ring against Mike Tyson will not be the same Lewis that goes in against David Tua,8221; Finkel said.

Tua, 37-1 with 32 knock-outs, is 5-foot-11 and 245 pounds. But taller Lewis faces a punishing puncher who said he must knock out the champion rather than try for a decision. Tua said Lewis-Tyson talk diminishes the threat he poses.

8220;Lewis and his people are talking so much about fighting Tyson. That shows disrespect,8221; Tua said. 8220;That8217;s good. They8217;re not really prepared for what I have.8221;

Tua has a powerful left hook and he stopped his past seven rivals, including Robert Daniels in three rounds last July in his most recent fight.

Lewis, Britain8217;s richest athlete at 80 million according to British Age, is 37-1 with one draw and 29 knock-outs. The 35-year-old stopped South Africa8217;s Frans Botha in the second round last July in his most recent bout.

8220;Everyone says the Tua fight will be tough,8221; Lewis said. 8220;All the emphasis is on his power and that8217;s the only thing they can emhpasise. What else does he have? I have power and speed and boxing skills. 8220;I8217;m out to prove Tua is not going to make his name off. This is a defining moment for him.8221;

After Tua, who has waited two years for a title chance, there is no rival to Lewis who sparks as much fan interest as Tyson, including the man who twice beat Tyson Evander Holyfield.

Holyfield owns the World Boxing Association belt stripped from Lewis for fighting unbeaten Michael Grant last April rather than John Ruiz, who lost a controversial decision to Holyfield for a tainted WBA title in August.

Lewis8217; unification triumph over Holyfield here a year ago after a disputed draw set the stage for Grant, Botha and Tua. And for Lewis, Tyson is quickly becoming a now-or-never proposition.

8220;The shine has gone off Tyson,8221; Lewis said. 8220;He has been beaten twice by Holyfield and his last few fights have been traveling circus shows. He has fans. They look at him when he was Tyson. Tyson today is a different man.8221;

Lewis called Tyson a shadow of his former self against Golota and said he takes the once-mighty challenger8217;s threats lightly.

8220;I don8217;t take it 100 per cent because I realise he8217;s a disturbed person. It8217;s like listening to a madman,8221; Lewis said. 8220;I want to get all the misfits out of boxing. Mike Tyson is the last misfit. He8217;s the No 1 misfit.8221;