Will Lewis Fight Klychko?

British boxer Lennox Lewis says his next fight will be a rematch with Mike Tyson. AP reports it most likely will take place in June. The Briton intends to go to Memphis on February 22 to watch the Tyson — Etienne fight. Meanwhile, Lewis’ representative Judd Bernstein said talks for a proposed championship bout with Vitaly Klychko had collapsed.

Vitaly Klychko, as official World Boxing Council (WBC) contender, was to take on Lewis on April 12 or 19. Unconfirmed reports claimed that the parties had even sign a contract. It allegedly stipulated that Lewis was to be paid $17 million and Klychko “a mere” $5 million. Incidentally, this is not Lewis’ first attempt to avoid a match. Late last year, Lewis backpedaled and said he would fight Vitaly Klychko.

The Ukrainian boxer’s lawyer announced he was suing Lennox Lewis for his decision to fight Mike Tyson rather than Klychko, the official contender for the Briton’s title. The Hamburg-based Universum Box-Promotion company, representing the interests of Klychko, said the Lewis-Klychko fight contract had been signed last December and the match was to be held in April 2003 in Las Vegas. “Lewis is a WBC member and must obey the rules. So he must take on Vitaly. If he refuses, we will get him stripped of the world champion title through a court action,” company spokesman Peter Hanras said. If Lewis fails to appear on the ring to fight Klychko, he will be not only deprived of the world champion title but will also have to pay a fine.

One of the reasons why Lewis refuses to take on Vitaly Klychko is money: Lewis received about $45 million for his fight against “Iron Mike” Tyson last June. This figure is nearly three times as large as that for a bout with Klychko. In addition, nobody can guarantee that the Briton will emerge victorious in the bout with Vitaly, while he will find it easier to tackle the “Retired” Mike Tyson.