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LEWIS’ TRAINER LAYS IT ON THE LINE

EXCLUSIVE: The Flyer gets legendary trainer Emmanuel Steward’s lowdown on how his fighter, heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, will do against former champ Mike Tyson Saturday night.

Flyer: Is this the greatest fight in history?

Steward: I don’t know, It’s gonna be hard to beat Ali v. Frazier but it has the potential because there’s two things that make great fights — emotion and dislike for each other — and both of them have that.

pic by JACKSON BAKER

Flyer: What kind of fight can we expect to see?

Steward: I think it will be very explosive, and emotional fight for the first three rounds, and then the big man knocks out the little man.

Flyer: Is this the greatest fight in history?

Steward: I don’t know, It’s gonna be hard to beat Ali v. Frazier but it has the potential because there’s two things that make great fights — emotion and dislike for each other — and both of them have that.

Flyer: How does it feel to be here in Memphis? Fighting in a city with a lot of history and the fight is the biggest deal at the Pyramid.

Steward: It’s always good to fight in a city that no one is used to having fights. And so the people appreciate it more than would be in Las Vegas, and you got the whole city coming out to really like host, and not just a casino, so I think it’s gonna be a very good turnout, and as a result the fighters are gonna fight a little bit better than they would in Las Vegas too.

Flyer: Is this about fighting or boxing or what is it about?

Steward: This is about fighting, it’s two guys who have been close to fighting each other for many years. And Mike Tyson had to give up his championship nearly five years ago because of Lennox Lewis then, So finally these two are here fighting in this town here and I think it’s gonna be an out pouring of events.

Flyer: Do you have any closing comments?

Steward: The fight won’t go but five rounds, Lennox Lewis knocks him out.

By Frank Murtaugh

Frank Murtaugh is the managing editor of Memphis magazine. He's covered sports for the Flyer for two decades. "From My Seat" debuted on the Flyer site in 2002 and "Tiger Blue" in 2009.