King: Holyfield-Lewis fight will happen
Posted: Tuesday October 13, 1998 10:38 PM
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The world may finally see the matchup it wants, Holyfield vs. Lewis Jamie Squire/Allsport |
LONDON (AP) -- Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis are closer than
ever to fighting for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the
world, according to promoter Don King.
King, who is Holyfield's promoter, arrived Monday for a meeting
with Lewis' manager, Frank Maloney, saying "we are going to make a
deal."
"I don't know when and I don't know where the fight will take
place, but we are going to work to make it happen," King said. "It's important for the world to get these two champions together. The world at large is waiting with bated breath to see who is
going to be the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world."
King, who was in Paris on the weekend for another promotion, has
given the strongest indication yet that a deal can be struck for a
bout between Holyfield, the WBA and IBF champion, and Lewis, who
holds the WBC title.
"If it doesn't take place soon, it won't take place at all, you
ain't got too many options here," King said. "I'm coming to London to see what I can do. It's going to be a
major match -- major, major, major."
In April, Holyfield declined a $20 million offer from HBO cable
network to put his two world heavyweight belts on the line against
Lewis. But now King, who promotes fights on the Showtime network, says
he can come to a deal with HBO, which has a contract with Lewis.
King is expected to hold talks with Maloney and Lewis' promoter,
Panos Eliades, during his visit to London.
Maloney, who has managed Lewis for nine years, is also expected
to discuss a business offer from King to manage his interests in
Britain.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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