LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- James 'Bonecrusher' Smith, the first college graduate to become heavyweight champion, plans to rely more on his fists than his smarts in Saturday night's bout with Mike Tyson.
'I'm going to go in there, let my punches fly and get the job over with,' Smith said of the scheduled 12-round fight that will unify the World Boxing Association and World Boxing Council crowns.
'The thing is just to take control of the fight. It takes more energy to come back.'
Smith said he learned that lesson when he was knocked out in the 12th round by Larry Holmes in 1984. He did not allow it to happen in December when he took Tim Witherspoon's WBA title with a first-round KO.
'I don't know if I actually enjoy hurting people,' he said. 'I know I have to hurt my opponent because he's trying to hurt me.
'James Smith is a family man, an educated man, a man who visits the sick. 'Bonecrusher' Smith has to try to render his opponent unconscious. He has to get the job done and do it as soon as possible.'
The hopes in the Smith camp are that Tyson will be unable to react to being hit hard and often. The WBC titleholder has been virtually untested in 28 professional fights.
'Nobody knows what he'll do when he gets cracked,' said Alan Kornberg, Smith's manager. 'He's thinking about it. I see a situation similar to Gerry Cooney. It's all a big-hype job. The first time he fought somebody (Holmes), he lost.'
Kornberg promises a Tyson metamorphosis.
'I believe a bully becomes a wimp when hurt,' he said. 'Tyson has been knocked down in the amateurs, so he does know how to assume the position.'
Smith, 19-5 since turning pro five years ago at the age of 28, said Tyson will be in front of him for as long as the bout lasts.
'I really feel Tyson is coming after me,' he said. 'He only knows one way to fight. He has no lateral movement. We're gonna nail him. He's got to get inside. I can fight inside, outside, any way.'
David Bey, who lost a decision to Smith last summer, was one of Smith's sparring partners for Saturday night's fight. He disagrees with the punch-before-being-punched mentality.
'They both can punch, so 'Bonecrusher' has to stay away from him,' Bey said. 'I'd go out there, jump on him (Tyson) and if that doesn't work, feel the man out.
'He (Smith) is thinking more in the ring and he's not getting hit as often. I know if I had 'Bonecrusher's' body, I'd get the job done.'
Kornberg said Tyson is worried about Smith.
'I believe there is a lot of concern in the Tyson camp,' he said. 'They've said some very complimentary things about us recently. When Mike Tyson closes his eyes at night, he thinks, 'Power' and he thinks, 'Bonecrusher.'
'Mike Tyson knows what he's fought in 28 fights.'
