Mike Tyson has thrown down the gauntlet to newly-crowned WBC and IBF heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman following the American's shock win over Lennox Lewis. Lewis had a clause in his contract guaranteeing him a re-match within 150 days but Rahman is allowed a voluntary defence in the meantime. With Tyson already scheduled to face David Izon on June 2 in Washington it seems unlikely there will be time to set up a showdown with Rahman.
But that has not stopped Tyson from throwing his hat into the ring - and at least the television politics which had previously thwarted plans for a Lewis-Tyson bout will not come into the reckoning. Tyson is contracted to American cable network Showtime while Lewis has a long-term deal with rival company HBO. Rahman, however, has no such link to either station.
Tyson, the WBC's number one contender, said: "I would like to congratulate Hasim Rahman on becoming the heavyweight champion of the world on Saturday. Mr Rahman displayed the courage of a true champion and prepared very well for his fight against Lennox Lewis. I also accept his challenge and will fight him anywhere to make my dream of regaining the undisputed heavyweight championship a reality."
Rahman is understandably keen to cash in on his new-found status and a clash with Tyson would be his most lucrative option. However, if it is not plausible to set up that encounter, the 'Baltimore Bomber' could be handed a marking-time re-match with South African Corrie Sanders, who he beat in seven rounds last May. Rahman told secondsout.com: "Sure, I'd like it to be Mike Tyson, but that may take some planning and some time to fix up. Lennox Lewis wants the return which we signed for in his contract. OK by me. It simply means I have to knock him out all over again. They've also talked to me about a return with Corrie Sanders. I know Sanders is tied up to Rodney Berman and I'm a Cedric Kushner man. They work together so it's an easy fight to make. Just let them get something on and I'll be back."
For his part, Lewis remains confident he will get an instant re-match with Rahman and has even re-opened his war of words with Tyson. "Rahman is not going to wriggle out of this," Lewis told the Daily Mail. "They are not going to get him another fight because they are signed into me. If I was concerned about the situation I would not be going on safari, I would be going straight home to take care of business." And in a swipe at Tyson, he added: "He is now the second of two big fights coming up. The good thing about what happened here is that it makes our meting more likely. Having seen me get knocked out he will be encouraged to believe he can beat me. So, instead of Tyson being chicken, we can line up two championship fights in quick succession." (PA)
Filed by Shane Murray
