Lets Get Ready To Rumble!!!!!

Lewis-Tyson title fight tentatively set for April

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Associated Press

 
NEW YORK -- Mike Tyson called off his January fight against Ray Mercer so he can challenge heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis in April.

 
Mike Tyson hasn\'t fought since dropping Brian Nielsen in October.


"This is a business, and I\'m sure Ray understands why I need to take Lennox out now," Tyson said in statement Friday. "Lennox made me an offer than I could not refuse, and it is time to give the people what they want."


Shelly Finkel, Tyson\'s adviser, said, "It was worthwhile to go directly to Lewis."


As the No. 1 contender, Tyson is in position for the WBC\'s mandatory challenge against Lewis, who regained the WBC and IBF titles by knocking out Hasim Rahman in the fourth round of a rematch Nov. 17 at Las Vegas.


On Tuesday, Lewis sued in U.S. District Court in New York to have Tyson drop the Mercer fight or have the WBC remove him from the mandatory challenger\'s position


"The heavyweight championship is my destiny, and I need my belts on my waist again," Tyson said. "So keep taking those acting lessons, Lennox, because your next role will be playing Cinderella, and I am going to break your little glass chin."


Lewis\' only two losses were on one-punch knockouts -- by Oliver McCall in 1994, and by Rahman last April 22.


Tyson stopped Brian Neilsen after six rounds Oct. 13 at Copenhagen, his first fight since Andrew Golota quit after two rounds Oct. 20, 2000.


The Jan. 19 Mercer fight was to have been telecast by Showtime, which had no comment about the cancelation.


The cancelation indicates that Showtime, which has a deal with Tyson, and HBO, which has a contract with Lewis, are close to agreeing on what would be a major pay-per-view fight.


They have had many meetings.


"I\'m hopeful," Finkel said. "It\'s not done yet."


The career clocking is running down for both Tyson and Lewis. Tyson will be 36 on June 30. Lewis, of Britain, turned 36 on Sept. 2.

This my friends is what I\'ve been waiting for! This is the fight you\'ll tell you Grandchildren about! The biggest anticipated fight since Ali & Frazier... I\'m sure the PPV will be in the neighborhood of 55-75$ USD. I don\'t care if it cost a hundred I\'ll watch this fight. I love boxing and this is a classic.

If Tyson fights like I know he can, he will beat Lewis down like he stole something.

If I wanted to see a fight, I would want to see an anything goes, no scoring, and no padding.


Like Fight Club.

Originally posted by ViVi
If I wanted to see a fight, I would want to see an anything goes, no scoring, and no padding.


Like Fight Club.

go rent or buy some UFC videos..kewl stuff, all types of fighting styles.

[Cerberus]

Tyson\'s best days are behind him, and taking into account that he has been fighting less than impressive fighters for the past couple of years (Julius Francis, Orlin Norris, Lou Saverese, Brian Nielssen... and a few others), I think that when the time arrives for these two to meet in the ring, "Iron" Mike will be made to look like a very average fighter. The only boxers with any real calibre he has fought in recent years are Andrew Galota and Frans Botha, OK, he beat them both, but Lewis destoyed Galota inside 3 minutes, it took Tyson three rounds (as I recall). While on the other hand, Botha was absolutely outclassing and outboxing Mike for 5 rounds when he got sloppy with his defence, letting the American through with a clubbing punch and going down without being able to recover.

As far as I\'m concerned, Tyson is not the man he was 10 years ago, and Lennox Lewis\' recent loss to Hasim Rahman has helped him restore his hunger for the game.

In the rematch with Rahman, he was simply in a different class, never once being troubled by Rahman. This is exactly the way I see the possible Lewis-Tyson encounter going.

Tyson will come out with both guns blazing, trying to go for an explosive early finish. Lennox will simply keep tight, occaisionally whipping out a classy left right combination for the first few rounds. By the midway point, Mikes lack of proper competition will start to take it\'s toll, resulting in him becoming tired by the mid to late rounds. Lennox will just pick him off at range with his superior jab, and I think going on to win by KO in the closing rounds, or possibly on points.

The only danger I see, is if Lewis starts to drop his guard (as he is prone to doing), this might give Tyson the oportunity to try and do to Lewis, what he did to Botha.

On a final note, I think Lennox is making a BIG mistake by thinking of teaming up with Don King. This man is BAD for the sport..... he always has been, and always will be. To be blunt, he\'s as bent as a nine bob note, and as long as he has his twisted money grabbing claws in the till, boxing will always be corrupt.

There I\'ve said it. And  I\'m sure there will be people who agree, and equally sure there will be people who disagree.

Well your right! I disagree:)

You make some intresting points, but Tyson is the hardest hitter on the planet. And I\'m sorry, but anyone on the comeback will not get quality opponents everytime. This is why Tyson\'s list is full of average fighters. Now, as for the last match Tyson fought with the Danish King. I have watched that fight a million times. Tyson made that fight go as long as he could. IMO he would of taken it all 12 rounds if *Dough Boy* hadn\'t quit. He needed to, because in the last 5 years he had only had something like 30 rounds of boxing. And only one fight that went longer than 3. Your right Tyson isn\'t the man he used to be, but the door swings both ways here. Lewis isn\'t the same man he was when he first became Champion. Tyson is a BAD man, with a new attitude. He relizes he screwed things up, he knows that he could have been the best. He\'s matured alot since the "EAR FIGHT" and this will be a great fight. I promise you though, both men will train harder for this fight than they have any fight in their careers.

Tyson will win this fight. Thats my opinion, and I\'m backing it with cash. Cause I will be betting on this one.

On a related note, I thought tyson couldnt get a boxing license in any of the states anymore? Since they may fight in April, Im taking it as a yes that either new york or nevada gave him one. I say those states since the major fights are usualy in the garden or in vegas at mgm or sumthin.

I\'m a casual boxing fan, just watch the big name fights..

I think Tyson will take it.. Alot can happen though, the fight is about a year 4.5 months away.