LEWIS CAMP WINS WAR OF WORDS.

Byline: MICHAEL ROSENTHAL Boxing

One duty of a good trainer is to get under the skin of the opponent, to confuse him, to knock him ever so slightly off kilter, while at the same time bolster his own fighter's confidence. Emanuel Steward, Lennox Lewis' trainer, hasn't shirked his responsibilities as his fighter prepares for his rematch with Hasim Rahman.

One example: ``Honestly, he's not good enough to be one of our sparring partners,'' Steward said even though Rahman knocked out Lewis with one punch April 21 to win the heavyweight championship.

And last week: ``He was about to quit himself,'' Steward said, referring to the final moments of the first fight. ``When you look at the tape, his eye was bleeding. He looked at the ref and almost started walking back to his corner.''

Also, in regard to the fighters' scuffle in an ESPN studio during a promotional tour: ``Did you see it beginning to end? Lennox chased him and he ran out of the place. Lennox took his necklace from him. Rahman ran away himself.''

Now, Steward, a veteran of this game, probably knows that none of the above is remotely true.

At the very least, Rahman is good enough to be Lewis' sparring partner; no one would agree that a hard-charging Rahman was ready to quit in the first fight; and both fighters seemed to have their moments in the chaotic tussle in the studio.

The purpose of the comments was to rattle Rahman. And Steward might've succeeded.

Rahman dismissed the first comment, which was a bit overboard, but seemed to be overly defensive in regard to the second and third statements.

``It's a lie,'' said Rahman, referring Steward's contention he was about to give up because of the deep cut over his eye. ``I told Emanuel, with the blood coming in my eyes, I didn't know how long the fight would go. ... I was going to stop the fight in the next round or two (with a knockout).

``That's just a ploy they use to motivate Lennox.''

And of the studio incident: ``As far as him chasing me anywhere, that's just lunacy.''

If nothing else, if fights begin in the minds of the boxers before they step into the ring, Lewis, with the help of Steward, might be winning.

--More mind games? Lewis and Steward said that Lewis' skills might be declining at 36, a curious admission leading up to a championship fight.

Are they playing more games?

``I wouldn't say it was a fib,'' Lewis said. ``Every day that you get older, your skills diminish a little bit.''

Steward said: ``Lennox has been boxing since he was 12. The man is 36 years old. That's 24 years in boxing. In common logic, with anyone, something is going on. You got Rahman; he's only 28 years old, and Lennox has been boxing 24 years. He has been in these big international matches (while Rahman) had hardly no amateur fights, in addition to two times reigning as heavyweight champion of the world, Olympic Games and all that, so that's definitely wear and tear on the body. And the next year or two would be crucial.

``I think he should get his championship fight back right away, unlike when he lost to (Oliver) McCall (in 1994). It was in his 20s, it was not that crucial, and now that the man is 36 years old, the man can't afford to wait another two years again and go through a court battle like he did (to force a rematch after the April fight).''

There's some truth in there. However, Steward is clearly trying to motivate his fighter.

--History lesson: Steward said Lewis will have history on his side when he meets Rahman again.

Champions such as Muhammad Ali and Floyd Patterson lost their championships to lesser fighters only to make some minor adjustments and regain the titles in subsequent fights, Steward pointed out. And, he insisted, the same thing will happen Saturday in Las Vegas.

``Traditionally, when a fighter who scores an upset, who is not as balanced or talented, in about 90 percent of the cases, the guy loses the rematch; the more talented fighter comes back.

``I always refer back to when Ali lost the fight to (Leon) Spinks and Floyd Patterson losing to (Ingemar) Johansson. Lewis is the more talented fighter. I think, with more focus and intensity, he will have a great victory.''

--Tszyu-Judah: Nevada officials should fine and suspend Zab Judah for his actions after his knockout loss to Kostya Tszyu on Nov. 3.

Judah, upset when referee Jay Nady stopped the fight after Tszyu put him down in the second round, placed his fist under Nady's chin and then threw a chair in his direction.

Obviously, officials must make it clear that boxers can't attack referees

under any circumstances. And they must make it clear to Judah that he must control his volatile nature if he hopes to remain in this sport.

--Mayweather-Chavez: Floyd Mayweather Jr., who battered Jesus Chavez in a ninth-round victory Saturday, is among those who desperately needs a challenge to bolster his image.

He should set his sights on Tszyu, although Mayweather would be moving up 10 pounds.

--Touch luck: Poor Roman Karmazin.

First the Russian comes to the United States to begin preparations for his fight with Oscar De La Hoya on Dec. 8 and is told his handlers couldn't get into the country.

Then De La Hoya suffers an injury to his left wrist and the fight is called off.

Karmazin, the No. 1 contender for De La Hoya's WBC junior middleweight belt, probably will get another title shot but might never see the money or exposure he would have received against De La Hoya unless the fight can be rescheduled.

--A blessing? Mia St. John's first pro defeat Friday might have been a blessing: Maybe now she won't fight Christy Martin.

Rolanda Andrews knocked the Calabasas resident down and the fight was stopped. Martin, perhaps the second-best female fighter in the world, might've seriously hurt St. John.

The two had been negotiating to fight.

--Rabbit punches: The Marco Antonio Barrera-Erik Morales rematch is set for March 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. They will fight for Morales' WBC featherweight title. ...

WBA junior lightweight champ Joel Casamayor and WBO titleholder Acelino Freitas will meet Jan. 12. The site has not been determined. ...

HBO's ``Real Sports'' will look back at the unforgettable Bobby Chacon- Danny ``Little Red'' Lopez fight of 1974 and check in with the fighters today.

--Coming up: Rolando Reyes of Oxnard will face Tony Avile in a 10-round junior welterweight bout Thursday at Centennial Garden in Bakersfield.

On Friday, on ESPN2, Frankie Toledo will defend his IBF featherweight title against Manuel Medina in Las Vegas.

DAILY NEWS TOP 10

Top 10 fighters, pound for pound

1. Roy Jones - He must get Hopkins into the ring again.

2. Shane Mosley - Shane who? It's getting to that point.

3. Bernard Hopkins - He must get Jones into the ring again.

4. Floyd Mayweather - He must get Tszyu into the ring.

5. Marco Antonio Barrera - He'll beat Morales this time.

6. Oscar De La Hoya - So many options, but we have to wait.

7. Felix Trinidad - Could it be Tito-De La Hoya in May?

8. Kostya Tszyu - He must get Mayweather into the ring.

9. Ricardo Lopez - If only he could find a big-name opponent.

10. Erik Morales - He has a lot to prove against Barrera.

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

(color) WBC and IBF heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman is surrounded by fans during a visit Friday to south Los Angeles.

Kim D. Johnson/Associated Press

Box:

DAILY NEWS TOP 10 (see text)