Tyson leaves ranting to others
at press conference

It was the usual Mike Tyson press conference on Tuesday, pushing, shoving and plenty of profanity-laced rantings.

But this time it was Tyson's trainers and the media providing the antics while the former champion, who fights Lennox Lewis on Saturday in what is being billed as the richest world heavyweight title fight of all time, slipped away in silence.

Tyson, famous for his explosive outbursts, had absolutely nothing to say in his one and only scheduled meeting with the media, limiting his remarks to a prepared statement.

"I feel great," said Tyson in a press statement. "I'm as strong as I've ever been and in the best shape of my life.

"On Saturday night, I am going to do what I do best and put a world of hurt on Mr Lewis in a devastating and spectacular manner.

"It is my destiny and I will not be denied in reclaiming my heavyweight title."

Taken by buses for a steamy trip to Tunica, Mississippi, for a Tyson training session, hundreds of reporters were rewarded with only a 10-minute glimpse of the 35-year-old boxer on the speed bag before he left the workout without uttering a single word.

Tyson's handlers, however, had plenty to say, attacking both the media and Briton Lewis.

"This is why he (Tyson) won't talk to you guys," said the American's trainer Ronnie Shields when asked if he thought his fighter might bite Lewis.

STAY FOCUSED

"You ask questions like that, you irritate him. Mike doesn't want to answer your questions. He doesn't want to talk, he wants to stay focused."

With television crews screaming at photographers, reporters jostling for position and security attempting to restore order, the scene had the chaos normally associated with a Tyson press conference.

But for once none of it involved a relaxed Tyson, who was a model of composure before disappearing through a side door.

Lewis is scheduled to meet the media on Wednesday, with the promoters departing from the normal joint press conference in an attempt to avoid a repeat of the brawl that occurred during the original announcement of the bout.

Those ugly scenes almost scuppered plans for the fight, which is expected to produce record takings of between $125 million to $150 million, when Tyson was denied a licence to box in Las Vegas, the original venue for the bout.

The promoters also plan separate weigh-ins and there will be no traditional touching of gloves to start the fight.

Tyson's camp said on Tuesday that it was Lewis making all the demands and that he had it written into the contract that the two fighters be kept apart.

"When you're a coward, you put a lot of things in the contract," said Tyson's co-trainer Stacey McKinley. "I heard he said, 'I don't want him looking at me, I don't want him staying in the same neighbourhood'.

"He's a coward, that's why we aren't having a press conference. He doesn't want to see Mike, he doesn't want to see Mike in the ring.

"We don't make those rules. He's a coward. You tell Lennox Lewis all hell is coming.

"Lennox Lewis...who is he? Who has he beat...(Hasim) Rahman? He's a real bitch, tell him I say so."