Deadline for Lewis
2003-04-03 19:49
Las Vegas, Nevada - The World Boxing Council has imposed an April 15 deadline for heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis of Britain to decide whether or not to fight Mike Tyson.
A release posted on Thursday on the WBC website attributed to WBC president Jose Sulaiman said that the WBC would sanction such a bout as a title contest if conducted no later than June.
Another condition would be that the winner face a mandatory defense next against Ukranian Vitali Klitschko, the current mandatory challenger for Lewis.
Should there be no decision by Lewis on Tyson by April 15, a 30-day period for negotiations on a Lewis-Klitschko fight will begin on April 16, Sulaiman said.
"We are sure that he will behave as usual as a true and authentic champion, fulfilling his obligations according to the requirements of the organisation," Sulaiman said.
The release did not mention what happens should Lewis not want to fight Tyson or Klitschko, but typically the title is vacated and the two top contenders would meet for the crown.
In the WBC's case, that would mean Klitschko and ex-champion Hasim Rahman, who is promoted by Don King. Rahman fought a draw with Samoan star David Tua last Saturday.
The April 15 deadline is the same one Roy Jones faces to decide whether or not to keep the World Boxing Association heavyweight title he won from John Ruiz.
The former undisputed light heavyweight champion is likely to keep the newer crown for the bigger paydays and greater variety of opponents available. He is talking with Evander Holyfield about a possible title defense.
Jones faces a WBA demand for a mandatory defense against Klitschko should he keep the heavyweight crown. Should the WBA title be vacated, Klitschko would face either Rahman or Tua for that title.
Lewis has not defended the WBC crown since knocking out Tyson in Memphis last June, but has shown more interest in money than crowns, figuring he remains the king of the ring event without the title belts.
Lewis has already forfeited the International Boxing Federation title rather than fight American southpaw Chris Byrd, saying he wants only big-payday fights and admitting he is considering retirement.
A rematch with Tyson is the biggest payday available, but Tyson has said he wants more tune-up fights before facing Lewis again. Tyson's only outing since the loss was a 49-second knockout of Clifford Etienne in February at Memphis.
There are talks regarding Lewis and Tyson fighting different opponents on the same card on June 21, either here or in Buffalo, where unbeaten hometown favorite Joe Mesci could spark interest should he face Tyson or Lewis.