Referee's count too fast in last fight

Lennox Lewis believes the referee's count was too quick when he was knocked out by Hasim Rahman in their world heavyweight title clash in Brakpan, South Africa last April.

At a news conference held on Tuesday to promote his November 17 rematch with Rahman in Las Vegas, Lewis said: "I wasn't able to get off the canvas in time because the referee was counting too fast".

The Briton, speaking at his training camp in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania about 80 miles (129 km) west of Manhattan, seemed to want to appear a gracious loser at the same time as verbally putting Rahman down.

Lewis said: "I don't want to take anything away from Rahman", but he also described his American opponent as "a freshman in the game".

The Briton's claim of a quick count in the fifth round of their first fight is not supported by the facts.

Lewis was knocked flat and it was apparent that he was not going to be able to defend himself again that night.

Lewis, who said he would retire if Rahman defeated him again, insisted it was merely a lucky punch and that he had now completely recovered from the loss of his International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Council titles.

He said much the same after Oliver McCall knocked him out in 1994. But it was obvious that McCall's upset victory affected Lewis for many fights as he boxed extremely tentatively, not daring to go in close unless he had his man hurt.

It was only in his last few fights before the Rahman contest that Lewis seemed to shed his inhibitions and exhibit his considerable skills.

Lewis admitted that he was "humiliated" by the knockout, but added: "I'm a great champion. This is just a math question for me which I need to go solve".

TOO CAUTIOUS

That is precisely the attitude trainer Emanuel Steward says he has been trying to counter ever since he began working with Lewis several years ago.

Steward has often criticised his fighter for being too cautious, for treating a fight as if it were a game of chess -- becoming too cerebral and not physical enough.

Steward said at the news conference that he thought his man could very well get hurt against Rahman and might have to slug it out with the American.

But Steward, a well-respected trainer who has worked with many world champions, then changed tack to build up the fighter's confidence.

He compared Lewis with the greatest heavyweights in history, particularly Muhammad Ali. Steward said Lewis had the same abilities as Ali, although he added that Ali possessed more discipline.

Lewis spoke of plots designed to disrupt his training camp in South Africa.

Asked to explain, Lewis quickly handed the microphone to Steward, who launched into a convoluted tale of boxing politics geared to disrupt the Lewis camp.

Steward even said the ring had been set up for wrestling with stiff ropes that prevented Lewis from springing off to throw punches.

Lewis, who admitted to taking Rahman -- 29 on November 7 -- lightly in their first bout, said: "I don't want to stand in front of him".

But the 36-year-old added: "Not many people can cope with my jab when I throw it."

Lewis will go into the fight with a career record of 38 wins, two defeats and one draw. Rahman has 35 victories to his credit and two defeats.