MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Round-by-round for the WBC and IBF
heavyweight title fight between champion Lennox Lewis and Mike
Tyson:
Before the fighters entered the ring, a dozen yellow-shirted security guards formed a barrier from corner to corner to keep them apart. The fighters received instructions in the dressing room from the referee and didn't meet at the center of the ring to touch gloves, for fear one would hit the other.
Tyson came into the ring first, wearing his customary cut-out
towel around his neck. The crowd stood cheering for the former
champion. There were some empty sections in the Pyramid Arena.
Lewis walked slowly to the ring to reggae music.
Lewis stared at Tyson over the ring of security people. Lewis
wore white trunks and Tyson was in black trunks. Tyson was
introduced by ring announcer Jimmy Lennon while Lewis was introduced
by Michael Buffer.
Round 1
Tyson comes out jabbing, and Lewis jabs back. Tyson bulls Lewis
into corner and Lewis lands two right uppercuts. Tyson misses
wildly with left hook. Lewis holds Tyson. Referee Eddie Cotton
separates the fighters. They clinch again. Tyson backs Lewis up
with left jab. Lewis holds Tyson. Tyson lands a left hook with 50
seconds left. Lewis holds again and Tyson pushes him into ropes.
Lewis lands jab and misses right. AP gives the round to Lewis.
Round 2
Tyson comes out and they clash heads. Lewis is warned by Cotton
for throwing an elbow after Tyson complains. Lewis lands a right
uppercut 30 seconds in. Lewis begins jabbing and Tyson misses a
wild left hook. Lewis lands another uppercut at 1:46 of the round.
Lewis is warned again by Cotton for holding. Tyson rushes in and is
caught with a right uppercut. With a minute left, Lewis begins
using jab, landing four or five. Lewis lands an uppercut with 15
seconds left. AP gives the round to Lewis.
Round 3
Tyson head-butts Lewis as round opens. Lewis towers over Tyson
and pushes him off when he comes inside. Again, they clinch and
Cotton forces them apart. Lewis is throwing jabs, dancing around
with 1:30 left. Lewis is controlling the fight with his jab and
Tyson can't find the range. Tyson hits on Lewis' ribs while they
clinch. Tyson tries to move his head to avoid jab but it still
lands. Tyson lands left hook with 47 seconds left, his biggest
punch. Tyson is cut on the right eye. Blood is running from the
cut. Lewis works on cut. Lewis lands good right as bell sounds. AP gives the round to Lewis.
Round 4
Tyson rushes out again but is tied up and Lewis lands two jabs.
Lewis lands a big right hand with 2:25 left. Lewis misses a left
but lands a right. He is pushing Tyson around. Lewis jabs Tyson,
who appears confused and unable to do anything to keep Lewis off of
him. Lewis' confidence is growing. He hits Tyson with two jabs and
a right uppercut midway through the round. Lewis lands a big right
with 1:14 left as Tyson tries to hold him. Lewis hits Tyson with
two big rights. Tyson swings wildly with 40 seconds left. Tyson is
desperately trying for a big punch but can't land it. Lewis jabs
him, then hits him with a right hand and Tyson goes down on his
back with 10 seconds left. Cotton rules it a slip. AP gives the round to Lewis.
Round 5
Lewis lands his jab early. Tyson simply standing in center of
ring taking it, unable to punch. Lewis lands an uppercut then
Cotton stops fight and talks to Lewis again for pushing. Tyson is
an easy target for Lewis' jab. Lewis jabs again late in the round.
Tyson is unable to get off a punch and is beaten to the punch. AP gives the round to Lewis.
Round 6
Tyson's corner is trying to prevent swelling on both his eyes.
Lewis hits Tyson then pushes him across the ring. He seems to have
no fear of Tyson's power. Lewis lands a big left-right with 2:15
left. Tyson tries to throw a right and misses, then misses another
and they clinch. Lewis lands a succession of jabs midway through
the round, then a right hand that backs Tyson up. Lewis is pushing
Tyson off when he clinches. Tyson finally lands a right hand but it
doesn't faze Lewis. AP gives the round to Lewis.
Round 7
Lewis has some swelling under his left eye. Tyson is cut over
both eyes. Lewis is dominating with his jab. Lewis lands two jabs
and a right, then is warned again by Cotton for using elbow. Action
slows in this round, but Lewis' jab is still accurate. Tyson is
bleeding from the nose and from cuts on his eyes. With 23 seconds,
Lewis left lands good left and right and Tyson hits him below the
belt. Lewis buckles Tyson's knees with a right hook with 8 seconds
left. AP gives the round to Lewis.
Round 8
In the seventh round, Lewis landed 31 punches to four for Tyson.
Now he comes out in the eighth and jabs some more. Tyson lands a
right to the body and Lewis begins circling him.
Lewis lands a right and then left uppercut. Tyson's knees buckle
and Cotton rules it a knockdown. Lewis goes after him, landing a
right with 1:18 left. Lewis batters Tyson with lefts and rights.
Tyson throws a wild right, but he has nothing left. Lewis' right
hand crumples Tyson on canvas. He's on his back and tries get up at
eight. Fight is stopped with Lewis the winner.
