MEMPHIS (Tennessee), June 6: If Lennox Lewis’s performance in the ring is as polished as his press conference on Wednesday, Mike Tyson could be heading for defeat.

Lewis, who meets Tyson Saturday in what is being touted as the richest world heavyweight title fight of all-time, feted the world’s media in style at a Mississippi casino then served up a delicious response to profanity-laced attacks aimed at him by the former champion’s trainers.

“Controlled, precise, premeditated...this lunch is Lennox Lewis,” said Jay Larkin, the head of Showtime, who with rivals HBO are co-promoting the bout that is expected to generate takings of between $125 million and $150 million.

Soothing piano music, place settings and a feast of sirloin and lamb served by white-gloved waiters greeted the media as they arrived for Lewis’s training session in a heavily guarded air-conditioned arena.

The relaxed meal was followed by a carefully orchestrated press conference during which Lewis happily fielded questions before losing a game of chess to a member of the Oakhaven School Lennox Lewis Chess Club.

The scene was in sharp contrast to the chaos surrounding Tyson’s one and only scheduled meeting with the press a day earlier.

After grunting his way through a 10-minute workout, the self-proclaimed “Baddest Man on the Planet” slipped out of a side door without uttering a single word.

Tyson left the ring to his trainers, who directed profanity-laced barrages at Lewis, accusing the Briton of being a “bitch” and a “coward”.

“I’m up here doing the press conference he’s not, he elected not to. I think he’s scared of the press,” said Lewis. “The trainers don’t do the fighting, he has to do all the fighting.

“His trainers can say what they want, they’re trying to psyche him up and get him ready. They realise he likes that kind of talk and that kind of excitement.

“They can do that kind of talking but they have to remember they’re not in the ring. I’m a pugilist specialist and I’m going to go out there and do what comes naturally.

“I’m very focused, very positive, I can’t wait. That’s it, all the talking is done.”—Reuters