Lets Get Ready To Rumble!
Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson say they're ready to stop blustering and start negotiating for a heavyweight showdown this year.
The two fighters issued a joint statement Thursday pledging to end their public posturing and make the multi-million-dollar fight the boxing world wants to see.
"We are both aware that the public eagerly awaits a championship bout between us," the statement said. "It is the bout we both want. We both expect that it will be finalized soon."
Lewis is the reigning World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation champion. Tyson is the former undisputed champ and leading contender.
"We are pleased to inform the world that talks have begun between representatives of our two camps to make a Lewis-Tyson championship bout a reality this year," the statement said.
"Both camps pledge to work in good faith to finalize this deal. However, we both have interim fights that we are focusing on. We expect to begin negotiations thereafter.
"We ask the press to understand that we cannot negotiate in the media. We have both agreed not to posture or comment on the details of the negotiations."
The fighters said further joint statements will be issued on the progress of the talks.
Lewis is currently training for a fight against Hasim Rahman in Johannesburg, South Africa, on April 21. Tyson has a May 19 fight date with David Izon penciled in as his opponent.
The big hang-up is that both fighters are signed with competing American networks. Tyson fights on Showtime, while Lewis is on HBO. So far, neither network has shown any inclination to make a deal that would allow Lewis and Tyson to meet.
Both sides have accused each other of ducking the fight.
On Monday, Lewis was quoted in the Daily Mail as dismissing the possibility of fighting Tyson any time soon.
"There's no chance of it taking place in the foreseeable future," he was quoted as saying. "I'm fed up with Mike and his manager Shelley Finkel pretending that I'm the one who doesn't really want the fight. I want to put the real position on record.
"They are the one who keep messing me about and keeping me waiting. Then they blame me for taking other fights I need to keep in shape."
Lewis' business manager, Adrian Ogun, said recently the fight could take place as early as July 21.
©2001 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed