Boxing: Lewis sets Tyson deadline to confirm rematch
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Your support makes all the difference.Lennox Lewis has given Mike Tyson until the end of next week to agree terms for a projected 21 June rematch. Lewis' promoters are running out of time to secure the contest with pay-per-view television deadlines looming.
Tyson admitted after his 49-second warm-up against Clifford Etienne in Memphis last month that he needed more time before facing the champion again. The Lewis camp said yesterday they were actively pursuing other options for the date should Tyson or Showtime – the American cable network which hold him under contract – fail to agree terms.
Lewis' business manager, Adrian Ogun, said: "We must make a formal announcement next week. We are working to a tight schedule with regard to a rematch with Mike Tyson so we have to have a formal response back from Showtime and Tyson by the end of next week."
Lewis has shown little inclination to take on any of the serious pretenders to his title and hinted at the beginning of this month that without the financial reward of a Tyson rematch he might retire. But if Tyson holds out for more time the signs are that Lewis may change his plans and revert to a defence against Vitali Klitschko, the brother of Wladimir.
Talks broke down with the elder Klitschko two months ago but now Ogun is considering reopening talks with Vitali as one possible option for the 21 June date.
Ogun said: "Lennox reserved that date and never said it was inextricably linked with Tyson. We have been talking with other interested parties and there is an opportunity to revisit Vitali Klitschko. At the moment Lennox is exploring all his options."
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