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The recent brawl Mike Tyson had with undisputed world boxing champion Lennox Lewis at Las Vegas was further proof how much the sport has changed over the years.

The incident which took place during a news conference to announce what will be the richest fight in boxing history with a projected purse of US$150 million, came less than a week after Muhammad Ali celebrated his 60th birthday.

The comparisons between the two eras are vast. Whereas Ali constantly outstripped the hype "I am the greatest" and for a time was undoubtedly the most famous man on the planet. None of the present day fighters can come anywhere close to the charm and charisma that he displayed during his career. Boxing was made colourful by the presence of personalities like Ali. He touched the world unlike any sportsman before or since.

He often claimed "I am the greatest!" and who could doubt him - the first man ever to win the world heavyweight boxing championship three times. His magnificent physique and star quality did nothing to dispel the boast that he was the "prettiest", and his verbal dexterity showed the world that, of all those in the public eye, he was the "cleverest". Quite simply, Ali was a phenomenon. A showman, rebel, militant Muslim, civil rights campaigner and poet, Ali transcended the bounds of sport, race and nationality. Ali's manner in the ring was extraordinary. He danced around his opponents, taunting them to hit him, and his showboating and nimble feet delighted the crowd. As one admirer said, Ali would, "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee", a catch line which was oft used to describe his style of fighting.

In February 1964, Ali as Cassius Clay challenged the world champion, Sonny Liston and called him an "ugly old bear" before knocking him out at the end of the sixth round. He defended his title successfully nine times. He joined the Black Muslim sect and changed his name from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali. Then, when he refused to sign the oath of allegiance to join the US Army, he was stripped of his title and sentenced to five years in jail, a sentence that was later quashed on appeal. After three years, Ali was allowed to return to the ring. But he had lost some speed and was beaten by Joe Frazier. Though he gained revenge two years later, Ali's greatest moment came in October 1974 when he defeated George Foreman in Zaire in the so-called 'Rumble in the Jungle'. The eight-round knockout regained the championship he had first won a decade earlier. He was 32, and only the second man ever to win back the title. Ali was back at the height of his powers. He was a heavyweight with a destructive punch who had the speed of a welterweight. In Manila, Ali met Frazier, for the third time in one what was termed the 'The Thrilla in Manila'. It was their hardest fight - and perhaps the best of all time - with Smokin' Joe's corner conceding victory after 14 brutal rounds. But in February 1978, disaster struck. Ali lost his title to Leon Spinks, a man 12 years his junior. The return fight eight months later in New Orleans drew a world record gate, while millions watched on television. This time Ali outclassed Spinks and, with a unanimous decision, took the world title for the third time at 36. After losing on points, to Trevor Berbick in 1981, Ali, then 40, finally retired from the ring. Later the same year, rumours began to circulate about the state of his health. Parkinson's Syndrome was eventually diagnosed, a condition only too obvious when, with considerable courage, he lit the 1996 Olympic flame in Atlanta. The Millennium celebrations saw Ali honoured around the globe. In Britain, BBC television viewers voted him Sportsman of the Century, and he received a similar award from US magazine Sports Illustrated. The record books will show that Muhammad Ali's boxing career lasted 20 years, during which he won 56 fights and scored 37 knockouts. Despite his condition he still travels the world, receiving an ecstatic welcome wherever he appears. What boxing lacks today are characters like Ali. Boxers in the calibre of Tyson are not doing the sport any good. By their inhuman behaviour they are only driving away the spectators. Tyson remains one of the game's great enigmas. During his prime in the late eighties, he was thought of as invincible and potentially the greatest heavyweight ever. But James 'Buster' Douglas removed the cloak of invincibility in 1990 when he knocked Tyson out in ten unforgettable rounds in Tokyo. It took Tyson a matter of just 18 months to rebuild his career and put himself in a position for a tilt at the heavyweight championship of the world, which was then held by Evander Holyfield. But before he could do that Tyson was sent to jail in February 1992 for the rape of young beauty contestant Desiree Washington. Despite a ten-year sentence, he was released on parole in 1995 and, made his ring comeback by beating Frank Bruno.

Tyson's ultimate nemesis proved to be Evander Holyfield who at the age of 34 used a combination of strength, power and skill to halt him in 11 pulsating rounds. During a rematch fight with Holyfield, Tyson committed an act, which guaranteed him the kind of notoriety he would never have wanted when he began his career. After losing the first two rounds, Tyson sank his teeth into his opponent's ear on two occasions, earning a disqualification. His actions earned him a yearlong suspension and have had a long-term effect on his abilities. The current Tyson fights without the legendary intensity of his youth and quite often gets frustrated against lesser men. At the age of 35, he can still regain his old title only because the current crop of fighters is so poor. With Holyfield a fading force, Lewis likely to quit within a year and other top heavyweights fading from the picture, Tyson's route to the top could be untroubled if only he can stay out of trouble.

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