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LAS VEGAS - Former world champion Lennox Lewis believes the early rounds will decide Sunday's (NZ time) World Boxing Council super welterweight title fight between Americans Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
"It all depends on the first four or five rounds for Oscar," the retired Lewis told reporters at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino.
Trainer Emanuel Steward, who was in the British heavyweight's corner when he beat Mike Tyson in 2002, agreed with Lewis' assessment. "I think whatever pattern is established in the first few rounds is going to be the pattern of the fight," said Steward. "If Floyd's speed is too much for Oscar to handle, then even without a devastating punch, I think Floyd is going to stop Oscar.
"If Oscar can come out and start physically roughing up Floyd and Floyd gets very frustrated and very down, then I think Oscar's going to go on and win it."
Lewis said the biggest problem for champion De La Hoya, 34, would be the speed of the 30-year-old Mayweather.
"You can talk about applying pressure and being aggressive but if you can't catch that person, you're in a world of trouble," said the Briton.
"Oscar's fighting a younger, faster guy. He has to be fast again. Can he do it?".
Lewis and Steward said the bout had the potential to provide a big boost to a flagging sport.
"Probably more people will be watching this fight than any fight in history," said Steward. "If it turns out to be a good fight it is going to be tremendous for boxing.
"Oscar needs to fight behind a solid left jab. He has a fantastic jab, better than Mayweather's. He needs to apply pressure and work behind a jab and turn it into a left hook."
Hype for the fight, which is expected to be one of the highest-grossing in boxing history, has been aided by an apparently genuine tension between the two principals.
De La Hoya (38-4, 30 KOs) has won world titles in six different weight divisions.
Mayweather (37-0, 24 KOs) is widely acclaimed as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
- REUTERS
