Who Is... Tye Fields

WHY LENNOX LEWIS MAY ONE DAY LOOK UP TO HIM

At 6'9", 280 pounds with an 86 1/2-inch reach, Fields, 28, is
believed to be the biggest boxer to hold a title belt. He
physically overwhelms his opponents, having won 29 of his 30
bouts, all but two by knockout, many within seconds of the
opening bell. Says Fields, "My style is to hit 'em first, fast,
hard and often."

JUMP SHOTS TO BODY SHOTS

Fields was recruited by Georgia and Colorado as a defensive end
and tight end out of Westside High in Augusta, Ga. But he
preferred basketball and, in the mid '90s, played forward and
center at Oral Roberts and San Diego State, and became a
shot-blocking menace. He was playing for the International
Basketball Association's Des Moines Dragons in '98, when fight
promoter Paul Scieszinski spotted him and told him, "Forget
basketball. I'm going to make you the heavyweight champion of
the world."

TALL ORDER

Fields started working with Hall of Fame trainer Emanuel
Steward (he's trained 27 champions, including Lewis) this year
and earlier this month scored a 12-round decision over Sherman
(Tank) Williams to win the USBA title. He plans to take on a
top 15 boxer this fall. Last year Fields sparred with Lewis and
Wladimir Klitschko. "I matched up pretty well," he says.
"Within the next year I'll be ready to take those guys on."

COLOR PHOTO: CHARLES P. SAUS/MOUNTAINEER RACE TRACK AND GAMINGRESORT (BOXING) THE GREAT CONTENDER Fields used his size to overwhelm ShermanWilliams