LENNOX LEWIS has lifted the lid on his infamous press conference brawl with Mike Tyson which involved biting and a punch up.
The heavyweight rivals – who once sparred as amateurs – were finally set to face each other in 2002.
It was due to be the most lucrative boxing match of all time, but the pre-fight antics threatened to steal the headlines.
In Lewis’ new documentary, Lennox: The Untold Story, he detailed anticipating a melee with Tyson before arriving to the presser.
His long time friend Courtney Shand said, in an extract shared by talkSPORT: “There was tension when we got to New York.
“The night before the press conference, he said ‘If Mike makes a move for me, forget all the money – I’m not backing down from him, I’m not backing up from him.’”
Tyson at the time had not lost since 1997, when he was disqualified for biting Evander Holyfield’s ear.
Lewis on the other hand the unified heavyweight king and golden boy of the division.
And their opposing personalties clashed as soon as they got on stage for what was meant to be a standard face off.
But after Tyson marched towards Lewis and swung for his bodyguard, all hell broke loose.
Lewis, now 55, recalled: “All of a sudden I saw him take his hat off, throw it on the ground and start marching towards me.
“Boom. I was on it – the first three punches were mine and the first bite was his.”
Tyson was forced to pay Lewis around £260,000 for biting his leg, while the brawl almost cancelled the mega-fight all together.
Las Vegas was due to host the grudge match but the Nevada State Athletic Commission decided not to re-license Tyson.
As a result, promoters were left scrambling to find an alternative to the fight capital of the world.
Memphis would eventually be selected as the pay-per-view was forced back by two months.
Lewis prevailed with an eight round knockout, and fought Vitali Klitschko a year later before retiring as champion.
Tyson would carry on and returned with a win against Clifford Etienne in 2003.
But after dismal defeats to Brit Danny Williams and Kevin McBride, the youngest heavyweight champion off all time finally retired in 2005.
Amazingly, 15 years on and the 54-year-old is preparing to make a comeback.
He faces fellow legend Roy Jones Jr, 51, in an eight-round spectacle in three weeks time.
