Thursday, May 30, 2002 | 9:22 a.m.
Lennox Lewis sees himself in a position where he can do the world a favor.
"This fight is very important for the historians and definitely for my legacy, and also for getting rid of the last misfit in boxing," he said during a conference call to hype his June 8 showdown in Memphis with Mike Tyson. "This is what the world wants to see, Mike Tyson and I in the ring and I'm glad it has finally come about."
Lewis, 39-2-1, and Tyson, 49-3, will take part in a pay-per-view bout that will dominate the sports landscape next week. Beyond the World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation titles that Lewis will risk in the ring, the outcome of the fight will solidify one man's fistic reputation while likely tarnishing the other's.
"My goal is to go out there and win honorably," Lewis said. "I am the best there is and he has to live with it. He once was (the best), past tense."
Lewis respects Tyson's power, but maybe little else.
"He definitely has that power," he said. "If I expose my chin he'll take advantage of it.
"But I know he is going to come right straight after me and he will run straight into my jab. He is under the illusion that I'm going to run away.
"He is sending out comments that Lennox Lewis is a coward and all kinds of things, but he doesn't know how I'm going to box. In his own mind, he is not too confident in what he plans to do. The only thing he knows to do is to come running, charging straight ahead."
Tyson also knows how to talk, perhaps aimlessly, Lewis claims.
"You can't help but feel sorry for him," he said of the former champion, whose out-of-the-ring troubles have overshadowed many of his boxing exploits. "This is definitely a puppy with some problems.
"He carries on (and) sounds like a cartoon character when he says some of those things he says. To me, it's just coming from an ignorant person. He says a lot of stuff and then nothing really ever comes true.
"Seriously, I think he is talking for his own benefit."
The reference is to Tyson saying he would like to "eat Lewis' children" and similar off-color remarks that Tyson has uttered in recent months as the fight with Lewis was taking shape. But now that the details have been ironed out and the bout is looming, Lewis believes Tyson may be feeling trapped.
"I didn't know if the fight was going to happen or not," he said. "Tyson kept saying he needed two more fights, but then he would fight a bum and a worse bum.
"Basically, he has no other place to turn. He hasn't been fighting anybody to prepare for me, so he might as well fight me now.
"But, in a sense, I don't even think he wants the fight."
Assuming nothing goes awry and the fight goes off as scheduled, Lewis not only expects to win but to have the crowd's support. He also said he won't be reluctant to take chances.
"I didn't get here without taking risks," he said. "I am definitely going to have to take some risks in the fight."
The pay-per-view audience may reach 2 million, even with its $55 price tag.
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