Fight riddle of Lewis' Muslim minders

Inside lines

Fight riddle of Lewis' Muslim minders

If you think there are some crazy things happening in Korea and Japan as the World Cup countdown quickens, wait until the summer's other main event starts kicking off in Memphis. There's no chance of a reprise of "Love Me Tender" as the combatants in the richest prizefight in history move into Elvis Presley's old stamping ground this week. None of the basic niceties of the noble art will be observed, not even the traditional touching of gloves. The first time Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson will be allowed within spitting, let alone hitting, distance of each other will be as the first bell sounds at the Pyramid Arena on the night of 8 June. Lewis will be protected by a platoon of heavies. Bizarrely, they are members of the controversial Nation of Islam, whose fundamentalist leader, Louis Farrakhan, is barred from Britain. Eyebrows will be raised, because Lewis is not a Muslim, though Tyson is. It is believed that the Islamic group, who once surrounded Muhammad Ali, want to get back into boxing and have actually helped underwrite the $100 million contest. Lewis declines to comment on the massed presence of the minders in suits and dark glasses, but from his retreat in the Poconos Mountains he insists he is unfazed at the growing belief among fellow professionals (like jockeys, never the greatest tipsters) that an in-shape Tyson will knock him out. Once-bitten Evander Holyfield, who fights Hasim Rahman on Saturday, picks Tyson, as do both Ricky Hatton and Eamonn Magee, who meet in Manchester the same day. "Tyson brings no honour to the sport," says Lewis. "He's basically a cheater. I stand for dignity." Someone's going to be all shook up.

How Duncan Smith finally won his Spur

The true-blue Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith seems to have found even truer colours. Although born a Scot, he'll be rooting for England in the World Cup, and, having come out as a footy fan, will be shouting for Tottenham next season – as a North Stand ticket-holder. We doubt he'll actually toddle along to White Hart Lane in a club shirt, though we hear he has acquired one for his 12-year-old son Harry, also a Spurs fan. Friends say Duncan Smith is "sports mad" and has been since his schooldays. That's why workers at Conservative Central Office have been told they have his blessing to turn on the telly full blast during the World Cup and let rip their roars for Eng-er-land. He has also applied, via one of his senior advisers, for Spurs season-tickets for himself and his son. "I've always been a Spurs fan, and always will be," he assures us. "I like the way they play, they have always had a bit of passion about them." As we have seen recently, he plays the game, too, at 47, turning out on Tuesday mornings as the only Tory in the House of Commons team. Perversely, on the left side of midfield.

Benn declines rematch with Eubank

Nigel Benn, one of the greatest of warriors despite the unwarranted, sneering attack on his courage by Naseem Hamed last week, says he will not be making a comeback against his old foe Chris Eubank. The ring reunion had been suggested by promoter Frank Warren as part of a testimonial for the severely handicapped Michael Watson on 8 July. The idea was for Benn and Eubank to box an exhibition. Eubank was up for it it, but ex-world champion Benn, now 38 and retired for six years, says: "I promised my wife Caroline I would never climb into a ring again. She'd kill me if I did. But I'll do anything to help Michael in any other way I can." Since quitting, the "Dark Destroyer" has become a committed Christian and works tirelessly for his church and charities.

Just when it seemed that the Olympic waters muddied by the Salt Lake City scandal had been purified, along comes another wave to douse the movement. And again it involves the United States.

Sarah Baldwin, the country's top female sports figure, has been forced to quit her high-profile post as president of the United States Olympic Committee after admitting she lied about her academic credentials. The 62-year-old Baldwin's official CV said she had earned a doctorate from Arizona State University in 1967, but it transpires she only completed the course work for the degree. There were other discrepancies on her academic record and yesterday she resigned, automatically losing her place on the International Olympic Committee. It is the IOC's first such casualty since 10 members were booted out for breaking the rules on accepting gifts. "This is not a crisis but a very sad story," says the committee's president, Jacques Rogge, who has worked hard to clean up the IOC act.

It is hard to pass through the portals of any British sporting organisation these days without tripping over an Aussie accent.

Most are doing a decent job in helping to knock us into shape, whether it is Rod Marsh at the cricket academy, Bill Sweetenham in the swimming pool, David Moffett at Sport England, Wilma Shakespear at the Sports Institure or the score or so now giving Manchester the Sydney shine. Alas, one hasn't lasted the pace. Julie Hoornweg, coach to England's netballers, returned home after "communcations difficulties" with the players. Apparently she expressed herself rather too forcefully for their delicate ears. It might explain why football is now the number one sport for women.

insidelines@independent.co.uk

Exit Lines

I'm afraid the Scottish are very careful when it comes to parting with their money. Rhona Martin explains why her golden curlers have not become wealthy since the Olympics... The real hooligans are the BBC. Cardiff chairman Sam Hammam puts the boot into a TV documentary on football violence by his club's supporters... I'd love it if I could become Lady Beckham. Victoria reveals she has even Posher ambitions... Who gives a f*** about the crowd. Jeered Naseem Hamed wins his comeback fight, but loses his audience.