Eddie Cotton spent eight years separating inmates from each other in the ring in New Jersey prisons. With that experience, he doesn't think he'll have much trouble keeping Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis in line.

Tennessee officials confirmed Thursday that Cotton will be the referee for one of the biggest fights ever, charged with keeping order in the ring June 8 when Tyson fights Lewis for the heavyweight title.

It's a big job, but Cotton is a big man. At 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, he doesn't figure to be intimidated by either Tyson or Lewis in the ring.

"I'm as big as both of them,'' Cotton said. "If something happens they'll look at me a bit more seriously.''

The prospect that something might happen with the unpredictable Tyson was one reason why Cotton was picked over Las Vegas referee Joe Cortez to be the third man in the ring.

The last time Tyson was in a title fight, he bit Evander Holyfield's ears. He also tried to break Francois Botha's arm, and went after a referee who got in his way when he was trying to knock out Lou Savarese.

It will be part of Cotton's job to make sure none of that happens in Memphis.

"I've seen a lot and I've been around a lot,'' Cotton said. "I'm very confident in my abilities.''

Cotton is relatively unknown outside of New Jersey, although he has 19 world title fights to his credit in 10 years as a pro referee. Before that, he was an amateur referee, spending eight years going inside New Jersey prisons to referee fights.

Cotton isn't likely to become as well known as Mills Lane, who refereed the infamous "Bite Fight'' between Tyson and Holyfield, but his selection is a bit of a coming out party for him as a big time referee.

"There will be a little bit of nervousness because all folks are nervous until the bell rings,'' he said. "Once the bell rings, though, I'm the man.''

Cotton is no stranger to controversy in fights. He disqualified Andrew Golota for hitting below the belt in a fight Golota was winning against Riddick Bowe and was also the referee when Golota bit Samson Po'uha on the shoulder and head-butted Danell Nicholson.

"I've had some big heavyweight fights,'' he said. "I guess my experience in handling situations that arise right away was a factor in being picked.''

Cotton was trained as a referee by New Jersey athletic commissioner Larry Hazzard, who said Cotton has earned a big fight.

"He's an excellent referee who has learned his craft well,'' Hazzard said. "I think they made the right decision in assigning him to this bout.''

Hazzard said Thursday he was being brought in as a consultant to make sure events leading up to the fight and the fight itself are uneventful.

"I'm a special consultant to the commission and will also serve as a special arbitrator in the event something bizarre occurs,'' Hazzard said.

That was news, however, to the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, which regulates boxing in the state.

"I don't know who Mr. Hazzard is working for,'' department spokeswoman Marilyn Elam said. "I can assure you he doesn't have a contract with the state of Tennessee.''

Also on Thursday, a portion of the undercard was announced for the fight.

IBF junior featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines will defend his 122-pound title against Jorge Eliecer Julio of Colombia, while former 130-pound champion Joel Casamayor will face Juan Jose Arias in his first fight since losing the title to Acelino Freitas in January.