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At last Lewis undisputed champ after IBF agreement
Posted: Tuesday November 16, 1999 06:04 PM
LONDON (Reuters) -- Britain's Lennox Lewis has been recognized as undisputed world heavyweight champion after the resolution of a cash dispute between his backers and the International Boxing Federation. "Thankfully, the lawyers representing us and the IBF have worked it out and Lennox is now recognized as the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world," Lewis's manager Frank Maloney told Sky Television Tuesday. Lewis beat IBF and World Boxing Association champion Evander Holyfield on a unanimous points decision in Las Vegas last Saturday in a unification fight for the undisputed heavyweight title. But he left the ring with only three of the four belts up for grabs -- the WBA, WBC and lightly-regarded IBO versions -- after the IBF decided to withdraw theirs at the last minute. IBF president Bob Lee, who pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of taking bribes to fix world rankings, said afterward that he considered the IBF's title vacant following a dispute over a $300,000 sanctioning fee. Lewis's camp had wanted to pay the money into escrow, because of the indictments against the IBF. His promoter Panos Eliades had argued that, with the IBF seemingly split, he did not know who should receive the check. Lee replied by giving Lewis until Friday to pay the money or forfeit the IBF title. Maloney, who had posed for British newspapers holding the check to prove it had been written, said the money had now been handed over and the dispute was over, although Lewis had still not received the missing belt. "We believe the IBF would like to present it to him on Saturday night at the heavyweight fight in Atlantic City between Andy Golota and New Yorker Michael Grant," he told Sky. Lewis beat Golota two years ago, knocking him out in the first round of a WBC title defense, while Grant has been named as a likely future opponent for the Briton -- possibly even for a first title defense in London. First however, Maloney has to persuade the WBA not to insist on Lewis being forced to make a title defense against compatriot Henry Akinwande. Akinwande is the WBA's No. 1 contender but was disqualified for persistent holding when he fought Lewis for the WBC crown two years ago. Lewis does not want to fight him again and Maloney, who intends to convince the WBA in Panama not to enforce the defense, says fans would refuse to pay to see that fight. However, Eliades was quoted as saying in the Mirror newspaper: "We are not sure if the WBA will agree to our request and if we don't take the fight, there is every possibility Lennox will be stripped of the title."
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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