TYSON CUT AND PASTED LEWIS SHOWS DOMINANCE, GETS KNOCKOUT IN 8TH ROUND.

Byline: Michael Rosenthal Assistant Sports Editor 

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Mike Tyson was exposed for what so many refused to believe he is: an illusion.

The former champion is hardly the superstar who steamrollered through the heavyweight division in the mid- to late-1980s. In fact, he's nothing but a plodding, one-dimensional fighter whose only hope of victory was a big punch that never came Saturday night.

No, this was Lennox Lewis' night. The big Briton, accused by so many as lacking in passion, rendered Tyson a pitiful, confused, utterly helpless punching bag before finally finishing the job with a crushing right to the jaw from which Tyson could not get up.

The official end came at 2:25 of the eighth round, when referee Eddie Cotton counted out Tyson in front of 15,327 exhilarated fans at The Pyramid. However, it was clear much earlier that this was a mismatch.

Lewis, who retained the heavyweight championship, had hoped this would be a defining fight in a splendid career, and it certainly was. Tyson's eroded skills notwithstanding, it was one of the great performances by a heavyweight in recent memory.

``I think heavyweight fighters mature at different times,'' Lewis, 36, said in the ring afterward. ``Mike Tyson (35) matured at 19, when he ruled the planet. I'm like fine wine, I'm always learning. And I'm ruling now.''

To Tyson's credit, he fought cleanly and never gave up in spite of his hopeless mission. And afterward, he was gracious.

``It was a splendid performance,'' he said.

Indeed, it was.

In an effort to avoid trouble, a wall of 14 security guards spanned the ring to divide the fighters as they entered the ring. The combatants were introduced to wild applause, particularly for Tyson. However, Tyson had nothing to hide behind once the opening bell sounded.

Lewis' most important punch was his remarkable jab, which he used increasingly as the fight went on to keep a charging Tyson at a distance and set him up for powerful rights.

At first, Tyson (49-4, with 43 knockouts) put up a fight. He - as well as the crowd - looked aggressively for the big punch that might hurt Lewis and turn the fight in his favor. However, gradually, Lewis' big right-hand follows hurt Tyson and sapped both his energy and will, leaving him a stationary target.

The end, in the eighth round, was gruesome.

Lewis (40-2-1, 31 KOs) first landed a right-left combination that sent Tyson to one knee for a moment for the first of two knockdowns. Moments later, with Tyson dazed, Lewis landed a chopping right to the challenger's jaw and he crumbled to the canvas.

It was quite a sight: Tyson flat on his back, both eyes swollen and bleeding from cuts, blood trickling down his nose and no more fight left in him. It was clear immediately he wouldn't get up.

When Cotton concluded the count, Lewis strutted around the ring pointing to himself - his way of saying that without question he's the baddest man on earth - while Tyson was helped to his corner.

Tyson's battered face and the punch statistics told the story. Lewis, who won all but the first round on all cards, outlanded Tyson 193-49 overall, 109-20 in jabs and 84-29 in power punches.

``I wanted to prove to the people I'm the best in world, on the planet,'' Lewis said. ``... He thought he could get away from my jab. No one can get away from my jab.''

Certainly not Tyson, not at this stage of his career.

--In preliminary bouts: Junior featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines stopped former bantamweight titleholder Jorge Eliecer Julio at 1:09 of the second round to retain his title.

Pacquiao (34-2-1, 25 KOs) knocked down Julio (44-4, 32 KOs) twice in the second round and was about to do it again when the referee stopped the one-sided fight. It was Pacquiao's second title defense since his stunning victory over Lehlohonolo Ledwaba last June.

``I hope that now people will start to respect me a little more,'' Pacquiao said. ``... The plan was to come out and let him feel my power early. I knew after the first round that it was just a matter of time.

``I would like to unify the 122-pound division and then move up to 126.''

Former junior lightweight champion Joel Casamayor, coming off his controversial loss to Acelino Freitas on Jan. 12, knocked out tough but overmatched Juan Jose Arias at 1:44 of the eighth round of a scheduled 12-round bout.

Casamayor (27-1, 17 KOs) knocked down Arias (33-3-1, 27 KOs) in the fourth, lost a point for a low blow in the sixth and then hurt Arias with a series of blows. Arias, who fights out of Napa, got to his feet but couldn't withstand another onslaught. His corner threw in the towel.

``I'm No. 1 (contender) in the WBA, but I'll fight anybody,'' said Casamayor, a 1992 Olympic gold medalist from Cuba who trains with Joe Goossen in Van Nuys. ``Freitas is afraid to give me a rematch. I would go to (his home country of) Brazil to fight him.''

Jeff Lacy, a 2000 U.S. Olympian, stopped Kevin Hall in three rounds in a scheduled eight-round super middleweight bout. Hall (18-6-1, 12 KOs) refused to come out of his corner for the fourth round after taking a beating from the hard-punching Lacy (10-0, nine KOs).

And Jo Ellen Wyman of Woodland Hills lost a unanimous six-round decision to unbeaten Corrine Vanryck de Groot of Atlanta.

Wyman (8-5-1, five KOs) fought aggressively but couldn't catch the quick-footed Vanryck de Groot (10-0, four KOs) to inflict damage. The judges scored it 60-54, 58-56 and 59-55.

Wyman, a 35-year-old personal trainer, has lost two world-title fights but won't give up on her dream of winning a championship.

``I felt like I couldn't catch her,'' Wyman said. ``She moved well. And every time I did get to her, she held. ... This whole thing was a good experience, though. And my goal is still to win a world title. I'll be retiring with a belt, trust me.''

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Lennox Lewis stands over Mike Tyson after a straight right hand sent Tyson to the canvas for good in the eighth round.

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

(2) Lennox Lewis, right, used his potent left jab at will Saturday against Mike Tyson.

Laura Roach/Associated Press