Tyson Makes Capital Gain But Lewis Fight to Go South
March 14: Mike Tyson's backers are confident that the world heavyweight title fight against Lennox Lewis will go ahead on June 8, but are less certain where it will take place.
Mike Tyson's backers are confident that the world heavyweight title fight against Lennox Lewis will go ahead on June 8, but Washington may not win the competition to stage the contest despite the city's Boxing Commission voting unanimously to award Tyson a licence to fight.
"I believe this will be sorted out this week," said the senior Showtime executive Jay Larkin, whose company has Tyson tied to a long-term contract. "It seems most likely now that this fight will take place somewhere in the United States, and Washington's decision gives us another option."
If no deal can be concluded this week the fight contract allows Lewis to pursue alternative title defences, and the International Boxing Federation's No1 challenger Chris Byrd has been put on standby. The fear in the Tyson camp has been that Lewis has been looking for a chance to duck Tyson ever since Las Vegas refused the former champion a licence.
Tyson has also been given clearance to fight in Tennessee, and insiders say Memphis is most likely to emerge as the host city.
Meanwhile HBO, the TV company with which Lewis has a contract, is considering the news that the manager of the Sheffield light-heavyweight Clinton Woods has won the purse-bidding process to promote a fight against the undisputed world champion Roy Jones.
Dennis Hobson secured the fight with a bid of $4.2m (£3m) and claims to have received an offer in excess of $1m from Madison Square Garden to host the fight, but he hopes to be able to keep the contest in Britain and has booked Sheffield Arena for May 25. However, the champion may choose to postpone the fight and pay Woods compensation in order to pursue plans to face the better known IBF world cruiserweight champion Vassily Jirov, of Russia. Woods may thus profit from his status as an unknown in the United States.
Audley Harrison's fight with the Minehead publican Greg Wedlake at Wembley on April 20 has been given the go-ahead by the British Boxing Board of Control after a three-hour meeting yesterday.
You've read the piece, now have your say. Email your comments, as sharp or as stupid as you like, to the sport.editor@guardianunlimited.co.uk
"I believe this will be sorted out this week," said the senior Showtime executive Jay Larkin, whose company has Tyson tied to a long-term contract. "It seems most likely now that this fight will take place somewhere in the United States, and Washington's decision gives us another option."
If no deal can be concluded this week the fight contract allows Lewis to pursue alternative title defences, and the International Boxing Federation's No1 challenger Chris Byrd has been put on standby. The fear in the Tyson camp has been that Lewis has been looking for a chance to duck Tyson ever since Las Vegas refused the former champion a licence.
Tyson has also been given clearance to fight in Tennessee, and insiders say Memphis is most likely to emerge as the host city.
Meanwhile HBO, the TV company with which Lewis has a contract, is considering the news that the manager of the Sheffield light-heavyweight Clinton Woods has won the purse-bidding process to promote a fight against the undisputed world champion Roy Jones.
Dennis Hobson secured the fight with a bid of $4.2m (£3m) and claims to have received an offer in excess of $1m from Madison Square Garden to host the fight, but he hopes to be able to keep the contest in Britain and has booked Sheffield Arena for May 25. However, the champion may choose to postpone the fight and pay Woods compensation in order to pursue plans to face the better known IBF world cruiserweight champion Vassily Jirov, of Russia. Woods may thus profit from his status as an unknown in the United States.
Audley Harrison's fight with the Minehead publican Greg Wedlake at Wembley on April 20 has been given the go-ahead by the British Boxing Board of Control after a three-hour meeting yesterday.
You've read the piece, now have your say. Email your comments, as sharp or as stupid as you like, to the sport.editor@guardianunlimited.co.uk
Use the feedback form below to submit your comments.
Use the form below to email this article to your friends.
- Mike Tyson- A boxing legend
- Mike Tyson: Will Fight For Food
- Tyson's Hatred for Rape-case Woman
- Caged Gladiators Do Battle - and Mike Tyson Referees
- Boxing: Listen to the Dreams of Fighters
- Boxing: Tyson's Stock Falling to the Floor
- Boxing: Spent Tyson Looks for One Last Shot
- Boxing: Tyson Deserves a Chance
- Tyson Eyes June Comeback
- John Rawling: Tyson Should Count Himself Out
- How Danny Williams Rose From the Canvas to Iron Mike
- Boxing: Iron Mike on the Scrapheap
- Boxing: Danny Williams's Win Over Mike Tyson Changed His Life "forever"
- Williams Delivers Knockout Blow to Iron Mike
- Tyson Whipped Into Rare Condition for Freedom Fight With Williams
- Will Anyone Call Time on Tyson?
- Tyson in Training for Fight in July
- Boxing: Tyson/holyfield Saga May Extend to Third Fight
- Is Tyson Out for the Count?
- Mike Tyson’s DUI Arrest
- Mike Tyson Arrested for Fight with Photographer at LAX
- Mike Tyson’s Daughter Dies After Tragic Accident