Lewis unfazed by "cartoon character" Tyson

World heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis stoked up the pre-fight antagonism between himself and Mike Tyson on Tuesday, comparing the American to "a cartoon character".

The Briton broke off from his preparations for the June 8 showdown with Tyson at the Pyramid Arena in Memphis, Tennessee, to assure the media he was unfazed by the latest comments made by the former champion from his training camp in Maui last week.

"I haven't been taking them in," Lewis told reporters. "He's an arrogant imbecile. That's Mike, and you come to expect that. He sounds like a cartoon character."

Tyson had lashed out on a variety of topics, including his relationship with the fans and the media.

Tyson has proved an intimidating figure for many opponents in the past but Lewis assured reporters he would not be another victim next month.

"I am definitely not scared of Mike Tyson," said Lewis. "I am the best there is.

"I am at the top of the food chain and he is looking to knock me off," added the World Boxing Council (WBC), International Boxing Federation (IBF) and International Boxing Organisation (IBO) champion.

Lewis, back in the familiar surroundings of the Pocono Mountains resort in Pennsylvania where he has trained for most of the last decade, has been in the ring with smaller sparring partners to prepare for fighting Tyson.

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Lewis, at 6ft 5ins, is almost six inches taller than Tyson but he said he was ready to cope with anything the American might throw at him.

"I am a boxer who can adjust to any moment," said the Briton. "He (Tyson) has to remember that he has never faced a boxer like Lennox Lewis. He will be in for a shock."

Tyson was banned from boxing for a year after biting a chunk out of Evander Holyfield's ear in their world title bout in Las Vegas in 1997.

The volatile American was also involved in a brawl with Lewis and members of his entourage at a news conference in New York in January, an incident which led to the cancellation of their scheduled bout in Las Vegas in April.

But Lewis said he was preparing to box by the rules in Memphis.

"I am just trying to fight him in a fair manner," he said. "I am dealing with the sport, trying to beat him and cement my place in history."

Lewis is preparing for Tyson with the help of renowned trainer Emanuel Steward, who does not feel the fight will last more than four rounds.

"Lewis can knock out Mike Tyson with one punch," Steward said. "He (Tyson) may land a few blows but it will not be enough to overcome Lennox Lewis's power."

In November, Lewis regained the WBC and IBF heavyweight titles with a fourth-round knockout of Hasim Rahman, just seven months after Rahman stunned Lewis with a fifth-round knockout in South Africa.

Lewis goes into next month's fight with a 39-2-1 career record, including 30 knockouts.

Tyson has not fought since recording a seventh-round technical knockout over Brian Nielsen in Copenhagen last October. He has compiled a 49-3 career record with 43 KOs.