Tired of Hype, Jackson Challenges Lewis Tonight

Some people want to turn the Lennox Lewis-Phil Jackson World Boxing Council heavyweight title fight into another “Rocky IV.” The fighters simply want to get it on.

While the managers and trainers of Lewis, the defending champion, and Jackson proclaim tonight’s bout a Britain vs. United States grudge match, the boxers try to ignore the blarney. Fighting for a championship is enough for them.

“Words can’t hurt you,” Jackson said. “It’s like sticks and stones. It all will happen in the ring, throwing punches.”

Lewis, who feels slighted in this country, where Evander Holyfield and, now, Michael Moorer generally have been considered the true heavyweight champion, also leaves the mudslinging to others.

“A lot of people are talking about Michael Moorer and other pretenders,” said the 28-year-old Londoner, who was given the WBC belt when Riddick Bowe, then the undisputed champion, dumped it into a garbage can in a dispute over a mandatory defense against Lewis. “My focus is Phil Jackson. This is a man to be taken seriously; he has more knockouts than I have fights. It’s up to me to prove myself as the true champion.”

On Thursday, Lewis (24-0, 20 knockouts) weighed in at 235 pounds for the bout that will be refereed by Arthur Mercante of New York. Jackson (30-1, 27 knockouts), who at six feet is five inches shorter than Lewis, weighed 217.