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CNN Sunday Morning

Lennox Lewis Remains Heavyweight Champion

Aired June 09, 2002 - 09:25   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PHILLIPS: Lennox Lewis remains the heavyweight champion of the world. Lewis bloodied Mike Tyson's eyes and nose before knocking him out in the eighth round to keep his heavyweight title last night. CNN's Larry Smith was at the fight. He joins us now live from Memphis.

Larry, I would say Mike Tyson needed cucumbers on his eyes. Scott, our director, said he needs big thick steaks.

LARRY SMITH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I think a little combination of both really after this. It was not pretty, what a classic shot there also on the canvass when Tyson was felled by Lewis. A great technical fight by Lennox Lewis, and he's still the WBC and IBF champions. He withstood the onslaught of aggression by Tyson the first few rounds, cut him in the third round. It was his fight from there until he knocked him out in the eighth.

As Lennox Lewis retains his belt and he looks on to his future. Mike Tyson is done and despite all the controversy that seems to surround him since the moment he stepped into the world spotlight, he was gracious in defeat.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TYSON: He was just fighting marvelous tonight and he was just too big and too strong and I couldn't get to him.

LENNOX LEWIS, BOXER: It was quite easy in one sense, you know. I showed him that I was a pugilist specialist. I showed him the sweet science of the sport. You know, he definitely was trying to get me out with that one big punch, but I wasn't really allowing it.

EMANUEL STEWARD, LENNOX TRAINER: This fight was good for boxing and I have to thank Mike Tyson for it, because he could have easily turned it into a very ugly event, but he was very gracious afterward and very humble, and I have a lot of respect for him.

TYSON: Of course I'm disappointed because, you know what I mean, the only thing I have out of this deal is money. I want greatness more than money, you know what I mean. It's really disappointing.

LEWIS: My friends said to go in there and make sure I give him some discipline, discipline Mike Tyson, so I did. You have no choice in the matter. You know, I have to make him humble. (END VIDEO CLIP)

SMITH: Well, you know, Mike Tyson now wonders what his future is all about. The big money paydays may be done as he clearly is not among the elite in heavyweight boxing anymore.

As for Lennox Lewis, whether he'll fight again, he's not sure. He said he'll take some time off and relax and contemplate if this was his last fight, as he is truly one of the all-time greats of the heavyweight boxing division. Kyra, back to you.

PHILLIPS: All right, Larry, thanks so much.

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