Lewis Drops Klitschko Bout, Focuses on Tyson Rematch
USA TODAY - January 28, 2003
Heavyweight champ Lennox Lewis finally showed up for a meeting with HBO late last week after putting network brass off for several days. The news he delivered was no more surprising than the late arrival.
Lewis decided to forgo an April fight with Vitali Klitschko and instead will return June 21, probably in a rematch vs. Mike Tyson, whom he crushed June 8 in the biggest money fight in history.
Although both have a rematch clause that allowed an interim bout, Lewis won't seek one. Tyson is fighting one, and Lewis will wait to see how Tyson makes out in a 10-rounder vs. Clifford Etienne on Feb. 22 in the Memphis ring where Lewis knocked him out.
''Now that there will be no April fight, Lennox has a contractual obligation to consider Mike Tyson as his June opponent and looks forward to seeing how Tyson performs,'' said Judd Burstein, Lewis' attorney.
''We had a very productive meeting with Lennox,'' HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg said. ''HBO is excited that Lennox intends to defend his heavyweight crown in June, and we look forward to finalizing those plans based on Mike Tyson's performance.''
Tyson adviser Shelly Finkel said he's ready to work on the rematch as soon as the Feb. 22 fight is over.
''If Mike looks the way I hope he does, we'll put the fight together for June,'' Finkel said. ''I told Mike that Lennox is not fighting Vitali, and he said, 'Great.' He knows what he has to do with Etienne.''
Burstein said there were too many outstanding issues in the Klitschko negotiations to iron out in time for an April fight. Klitschko promoter Peter Kohl was unhappy with Lewis' decision and said he has a signed contract for the bout.
''I regard this as a breach of contract,'' Kohl said. ''I will check every possible legal step.''
Of a possible lawsuit, Burstein said, ''The paper trail is so to the contrary of the Klitschko camp's position that we're not remotely concerned.'' Lewis eventually could have to face Klitschko or risk being stripped of his WBC belt. Klitschko is the mandatory challenger. Lewis already has given up two other belts rather than fight mandatory opponents.
Quick hits: Featherweight king Marco Antonio Barrera's April 12 HBO PPV opponent could be junior featherweight champ Oscar Larios, who is being considered along with ex-champ Kevin Kelley. . . . Showtime has added two fights to its schedule. March 15, junior lightweight champ Acelino Freitas meets long-faded Gabe Ruelas. March 22, featherweight titlist Scott Harrison of Scotland will be on home turf vs. Wayne McCullough of Northern Ireland in a highly anticipated British showdown. . . . Proving that yesterday's enemy can be today's meal ticket, Gary Shaw is co-promoting Tyson's Feb.22 bout along with Bill Kozerski. The last time Shaw promoted a Tyson fight, he was on Lewis' side. But Shaw split with Main Events after that fight and is working on Tyson's behalf.
Quotable: ''After my father's beatings as a child, nothing hurts.'' -- Welterweight champ Ricardo Mayorga, when asked after winning Saturday's fight whether any of Vernon Forrest's punches hurt.
AI
