The biggest fight in boxing in 2002 was finally set, when Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson signed to meet each other on June 8. Las Vegas rejected the bout because of Tyson’s suspensions in Nevada, and Memphis, Tennessee agreed to host the mega event.
A pre-fight press conference announcing the fight was held on January 22 in New York City. l vividly recall watching how insane Tyson acted, charging Lewis, and actually biting his thigh. He then went on a profanity laced verbal attack on a reporter who said that he should be in a straight jacket. It only confirmed to me what a loose cannon the ex-champion was, and that he needed serious mental help.
Both boxers trained in Tunica, Mississippi for the fight, which was about 25 miles south of Memphis. Tyson acted irrational in interviews with the press down there, and seemed to be trying convince himself he was going to defeat the extremely talented Lewis. Lennox was low key in his workouts, and as fight day approached, the whole thing was actually going to happen.
I remember the week prior, I went to Atlantic City to see Evander Holyfield fight Hasim Rahman. Evander looked sharp, caused a huge welt to form over Rahman’s eye, and won by a stoppage. A guy I was sitting next to asked me my opinion of the next week’s show, and I told him very emphatically “Tyson is going out on his back!” The same guy said “Why don’t you say how you really feel!” I told him “I just did!”
The Tyson vs. Lewis broadcast was a joint venture between HBO and Showtime, and used the broadcasters from both networks. I tuned into the pay-per-view card that night so rooting for Lewis. I was dreadfully tired of Tyson’s whole stupid act, and I wanted him to disappear for good. I really knew Lennox would be the one to do it, too.
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