Benn: Tyson Needs More Time
Paul Dalrymple
Tyson needs more time, insists Benn
By Richard Lewis
Sportlive/Express Newspapers
Nigel Benn popped in to watch his old friend Mike Tyson train and concluded
that he needs another year before challenging for the world title.
But before Julius Francis has his hopes for next week's confrontation in
Manchester raised by the assessement of the Britain's former WBC
super-middleweight champion, he should think again.
"He still looks awesome," said Benn. "Julius might be preparing for the
Tyson of 1989 but he should be ready for the present-day Tyson. His physique
was fantastic, I wish I looked like that, he is in great shape-powerful,
relaxed, solid and focussed.
"But next week is not about fighting for the world title. He is still a
little way off of that, maybe eight months or even a year.
He needs a couple more fights, to get in the rythmn of fighting because he
has not had that many rounds in the ring and that is the training he needs.
And do I have a mesage for Julius. Yes, good luck!"
But if Been believes Tyson has to wait a year, one of the closest men to him
insists he could be ready to challenge for the belt today.
"If Mike knew he had a world title shot he would be prepared," said Leroy
Seals, Tyson's sparring partner for the last decade and a friend since 1983.
Seals, of Ohio, has been floored four times by Tyson in the 10 years he has
been opposite him in the ring and though none of those knockdowns have been
this week, he knows what he is feeling and added: "Mike's punching has been
beautiful."
Tyson has sparred for 30 rounds this week with Seals and regular training
colleagues Jeff Pegus and Stanley Allen.
"He has been very sharp, very strong and very quick on his feet," added
Seals. "No matter what punches Mike has landed, they have been extremely
powerful.
Everything is strong-the jab, the right hand, the left hook, the body shot,
the left up top. They have been beautiful. Julius Francis shopuld be ready
for the Mike Tyson of today."
Seals revealed Tyson reflects on the bad times of his life but is convinced
he has the determination to reclaim the title.
"Sometimes he talks about the pain in his life but so many people out there
want to judge Mike when they don't know him," he added.
"No-one has walked in his shoes but him, no-one knows how he feels, he is a
human being like everyone else, people try to make him into a monster but he
is a man, a strong man and if you had to walk in his shoes, a lot of people
would not be able to come back from everything he has had to.
"Mike is motivated to be a great fighter and he will be even more determined
to get back the title again than he was when he first won it because of the
way it was taken from him, it slipped away and he wants it back."
Tyson yesterday broke his strict regime of training at 1pm to workout there
hours earlier so he could visit a Mosque and tour communities in South
London.
"Mike Tyson is a good person and he shouldn't be judged the way he is,"
added Seals.
"They didn't want him to go to Brixton but he wanted to see the kids that
don't have nothing and inspire them,. "When you read that someone of his
calibre came from where he came and he made it, then one of those kids are
going to look at him and say 'I can make it too'."