Tyson acting like he won't make 40, says Lewis trainer

Emanuel Steward, trainer for reigning three-times world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, described Mike Tyson as a dangerous opponent and tragic figure, who is living life as if he doesn't expect to reach 40.

Steward, who will lead Lewis into the ring on June 8 against the former-undisputed champion for what is expected to be the biggest money-making fight in boxing history, also said he expects his boxer to win in a knockout and then retire having confirmed his place among the sport's greats.

"He (Tyson) is living his life as if he doesn't care, or expect, to live to 40," said Steward, during a teleconference from Lewis's training camp in the Poconos on Thursday.

"He's just living his life day-to-day and doesn't give a damn about anything or anyone. It's kind of rough to deal with a person like that. It's very sad.

"Right now he's a guy living on the edge who really doesn't care."

Already considered wildly unstable, Tyson's reputation, as well as the sport's, has plunged new depths during the build-up to the fight.

The bout was delayed and moved to Memphis after the Nevada State Boxing Commission refused Tyson a licence for triggering a brawl during the press conference to announce the fight.

During another press conference last week staged at his training camp in Maui, Tyson exploded into a disturbing verbal assault on his British opponent and the media, asking journalists if they had children because he wanted to, "stomp on their testicles so you could feel my pain because that's the pain I have waking up every day."

SAD AND HURT

Some wrote off the outburst as Tyson's feeble attempts to promote the fight but Steward believes the former-champion's rant was no act.

"Lennox has laughed at most of it, he realises Mike isn't wrapped too tight at the moment," said Steward. "Lennox is not afraid of Mike and that's something Mike is not used to.

"I think it's real, I think Mike Tyson's mind is in that state right now, he's frustrated with the entire world.

"He feels that he's been treated unfairly and if you read between the lines, deep down he's a sad and hurt person.

"He's feeling he's been abused.

"He's been taught to make a lot money but never really been taught a lot about life."

Despite the fact Tyson is well past his menacing prime and has not fought a quality opponent for over five years, the fight has already sold out Memphis's 20,000 seat Pyramid Arena and is expected to become the biggest grossing boxing event of all time.

While Tyson's skills have eroded, his destructive appeal is undiminished .

"In the real world people like the misfits and the guys who do all these crazy things, that's why wrestling sells," said Steward. "It's unfortunate but that's a fact.

"This fight may be viewed live by more people than any event in the history of the world.

"People love all these crazy unexpected antics, whether he's going to bite, kick whatever.

VIOLENCE SELLS

"People like raising violence in our society, that should not be, but it is in movies, television, songs...that's what sells the most.

"We live in a society that likes violence.

"I'm still a big Mike Tyson fan, he brings a rage and intensity like no other heavyweight that I have ever seen, into the rink."

As one of the most feared and self-destructive men to ever set foot in the ring, Tyson's place in boxing history is already firmly fixed.

But Steward said he believes Lewis's place among the all-time greats will be decided by what happens on June 8.

"Everything is on the line. Lennox is aware of that," said Steward. "It's been 25 years moving up to this point.

"He wants to knock Mike out in a very devastating manner.

"You can have a great career but all fighters are remembered by just one or two fights.

"He has to win this fight.

"After that I don't see that there's much more for Lennox Lewis to accomplish.

"I think that personally he may have one more fight if he wants to unify the titles but that may not be important.

"He won junior world championship, he's an Olympic gold medal winner, three time heavyweight champion of the world, defeated the only two guys he lost to in knockout in return matches, I don't see how it could get any better.

"I don't see anything beyond this that he should fight for," he said.