Lewis lines up new fight

Published on Tuesday 5 February 2002 00:00

WORLD heavyweight boxing champion Lennox Lewis has confirmed that he will not be fighting Mike Tyson on 6 April. However, he has refused to rule out the possibility that the two will come face to face in the ring later in the year.

"The 6 April date is out of the window for the Tyson fight, but it may be okay for another fight," Lewis said. "I think on that day I will defend my titles in Las Vegas against the official IBF challenger Chris Byrd."

Lewis, the IBF and WBC title holder, remains keen, however, to reschedule a fight with Tyson at some point in the near future.

"Later in the year for a Lewis-Tyson fight - definitely," added 36-year-old Lewis.

"Mike Tyson is the ultimate match-up in my era, and it would be disappointing not only for me but for the public not to see that match-up."

The comments from Lewis yesterday echoed his revelations at a press conference on 30 January that Tyson is an opponent he wants to meet before retiring. "I definitely want to get in that ring and sort out Mike Tyson," said Lewis in London last week.

The bout, originally scheduled to take place in Las Vegas in April, was thrown into real doubt by the refusal of the Nevada State Athletic Commission at the end of last month to grant Tyson a boxing licence.

The decision followed a mass brawl two weeks ago at a New York press conference to promote the contest, where Lewis claimed that Tyson had bitten him on the thigh.

The decision in Nevada did not rule out all hopes of the fight going ahead because Tyson can still be licensed by another state or another country to challenge Lewis.

However, in addition to Tyson’s licensing difficulties and concerns over his mental health, there are rape allegations also hanging over his head. Las Vegas police only last week confirmed that they have applied for a sexual assault prosecution to be brought against Tyson.

District attorney Stewart Bell is currently studying evidence compiled by police that Tyson raped two women at his Las Vegas home in November 2000 and September 2001.

The district attorney’s office also said that it may be months before a decision is finalised, adding that if prosecution did result Tyson’s career would certainly be put on hold.