UNITED KINGDOM: LENNOX LEWIS IS OPTIMISTIC THAT HIS HEAVYWEIGHT MATCH WITH MIKE TYSON WILL GO AHEAD DESPITE NEVADA STATE BAN AGAINST TYSON'S VIOLENCE

Record ID: 338244

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: LENNOX LEWIS IS OPTIMISTIC THAT HIS HEAVYWEIGHT MATCH WITH MIKE TYSON WILL GO AHEAD DESPITE NEVADA STATE BAN AGAINST TYSON'S VIOLENCE
  • Date: 30th January 2002
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (JAN 30, 2002) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. LEWIS ARRIVING 2. LEWIS WALKS INTO PRESS CONFERENCE 3. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) ADRIAN OGUN READING OUT A PREPARED STATEMENT: "Prior to today, I have had no public statements concerning the events of January 22. I remained silent at the direct instruction of my lawyers, who advised me that revealing the truth about what occurred, would have undoubtedly led to a lawsuit by Mike Tyson claiming that I interfered with the licensing process. In addition, I believed that the Nevada State Athletic Commission, for whom I have the greatest respect and whose integrity is beyond dispute should make its decision in the best interests of boxing, without regard to what I may or may not have wanted. However, now that the licensing proceedings are over, and a license has been denied, I am no longer bound to remain silent." 4. CUTAWAY OF MEDIA 5. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) LEWIS REFERRING TO BEING BITTEN. "If anybody wants to see the bite I'll show it to the media but you can't take photos because they are going in my forthcoming book." 6. WIDE OF OGUN TALKING ABOUT CONTRACTS 7. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) LEWIS: "You have to remember that this guy took a chunk out of my leg and I'm thinking who's going to protect me in the ring, who's going to guarantee that he won't try and bite me. This guy needs help, he's going through alot of emotions, but I'm not a doctor." 8. WIDE 9. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) OGUN: "Lennox did everything he could to help Mike and Lennox also made a statement last week in relation to the fight happening." 10. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) LEWIS SAYING THAT HE PREDICTED TROUBLE AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE: "Two weeks ago I told HBO that me and Tyson can't come together face to face because this man wants to eat my children, so it's going to go off, but they said "No, no, no don't worry it will be allright." I told everybody it was going to go off and even there side were a bit worried because they brought loads of security." 11. CUTAWAY 12. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) LEWIS: "Yes I definitely want to fight Mike Tyson, Tyson is a biter and Lennos Lewis is a fighter. ASKED WHETHER HE REALLY WANTS TO GET INTO THE RING WITH TYSON. "I'm definitely prepared, I'm into the sweet science of the sport, there is a rule of conduct in boxing and when it turns into a savage thing with people trying to bite eachother then it doesn't make sense." 13. LEWIS POSING 14. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) lewis: I'm optimistic about the Tyson fight, I'm positive and I believe the fight will get made. London is a possibility, or China or Africa." Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 14th February 2002 12:00
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  • Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVA8778BWAWY58BJKBTIY0TKA1HT
  • Story Text: Heavyweight world champion Lennox Lewis is optimistic
    his proposed clash with Mike Tyson will go ahead, somewhere,
    but he remains doubtful over the former champion's ability to
    control himself in the ring.



    Lewis attended a press conference in a London
    nightclub, just 12 hours after the Nevada State Athletic
    Commission turned down Tyson's license application, throwing
    the April 9 showdown into confusion.

    The decision means the fight will now not go ahead in Las
    Vegas, although it could still happen elsewhere in the US or
    in another country.

    "I'm optimistic about it," said Lewis who became involved
    in an amazing press conference rumpus with Tyson and his
    security staff in New York last week. "London is a
    possibility, or China or Africa."
    But Lewis also left plenty of doubts, questioning Tyson's
    mental state and accusing the fighter of biting a chunk out of
    his leg in last week's brawl.

    "Prior to today I have made no public statements
    concerning the events of the 22nd of January in New York. I
    remained silent at the direct instruction and insistence of my
    lawyers," Lewis said in a prepared statement.

    "The fact is that Mike Tyson bit through my trousers and
    took a significant piece of flesh out of my thigh."
    Playing down his role in the mayhem Lewis said he warned
    beforehand that the head-to-head press conference with Tyson
    could lead to trouble. "After all this is the man who wanted
    to eat my children," he said, referring to one of Tyson's more
    unbelievable verbal outbursts.

    The Nevada State Athletic Commission on Tuesday voted 4-1
    to reject Tyson's licence bid at the end of a three-hour
    hearing.

    Lewis's manager Adrian Ogun said later on Wednesday that
    Lewis had worked hard for the fight to happen and would wait
    until next week for a clearer picture.

    He said the boxer needed to sit down with representatives
    of the U.S. television networks next week to see what could be
    done.

    Ogun said the contract signed with Tyson gave the American
    an option to apply for a licence in other states.




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