Dean Juipe: Hilton fight sees sluggers at crossroads

Wednesday, Feb. 5, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

FRIDAY'S WBC heavyweight title fight at the Las Vegas Hilton allows fans -- and bettors -- a choice of men both flawed and fearless.

While Oliver McCall's flaws are more apparent, Lennox Lewis isn't without imperfections.

"Too slow," was one complaint offered by a Lewis onlooker as the fighter went through his paces this week at the Ringside Gym. "And too heavy."

Omitted: "Too inactive." Lewis, for reasons blamed on boxing "politics," hasn't fought since last May when he went 10 rounds with Ray Mercer in New York. Fact is, he has logged fewer than 35 complete rounds since 1993.

Nonetheless at 6-foot-5 and at least 240 pounds, and with 29 victories in 30 fights including 24 by knockout, Lewis is a 5-to-1 favorite in the Hilton sports book.

On the surface, even with a list of negatives that includes a questionable chin, he provides the better value for those inclined to make a wager. At 31 he's a mature slugger who is always mentioned with the leading heavyweights.

Yet he has some patchwork to do. He needs to avenge his earlier, stunning, loss to McCall and prove it was a fluke. He needs this win for pride and to take advantage of his well-connected managerial team, one that can facilitate big-money fights with name-brand opponents like Mike Tyson and Riddick Bowe. A Lewis win and the vault door swings open.

McCall, meanwhile, is in a more dire mode.

Also 31, he's 28-6 with 20 KOs, none bigger than the eyes-closed right hand that sent Lewis down (and virtually out) three years ago in London.

Since then, however, McCall has wavered between success and self-destruction, defeating Larry Holmes but losing to both Frank Bruno and the temptations of drug and alcohol abuse. The latter fault led directly to three arrests in 1996, including one in December in Nashville in which McCall apparently went berserk and tore up a hotel lobby before deciding to tangle with police.

In and out of hot water throughout what has been a troubled life, McCall avoided jail time after his Tennessee two-step by readmitting himself to still another detoxification program. If it worked and what he gained are questions with uncertain answers, given the fact the Betty Ford-like centers don't publish graduation rates.

But here's a curious thought that's making the rounds: McCall may be even more dangerous than usual in the ring when he's acting a little crazy, destroying hotels and partying too much. While it stands to reason that such conduct -- particularly if it's driven by a drug and alcohol binge -- reveals a man who hasn't been training properly for a big fight, there are those who see McCall and his antics in a different light. They feel McCall, when he's slightly askew like this, will bring a tougher mentality into the ring, one that may enable him to handle a physically superior opponent like Lewis.

Of course, if that premise were universally true, Attila the Hun would have retired undefeated.