Lennox Lewis and Don King today announced a heavyweight boxing elimination series that could unify all three major boxing crowns. It all starts next month with a clash between Evander Holyfield and Chris Byrd for the vacant IBF version. The winner will face the victor of a bout between undisputed world light-heavyweight champion, Roy Jones, and John Ruiz for the WBA belt. King said the IBF-WBA unification could set the stage for 37-year-old Lewis to fight the tournament winner to reunite all three titles later next year.
Lewis said it was too early to say if he would take on the winner, saying "I'll tell you when I've seen them fight." King said he had paid Lewis £650,000 and a Range Rover to relinquish his IBF belt rather than face mandatory challenger Byrd.
King said the inspiration for the series came during a trip to the African bush with Lewis a few weeks ago. "We came up with the idea to make something that would be exciting and provocative and soul stirring for boxing. We were trying to do something that would contribute to the sport of boxing," he said.
Holyfield and Byrd will fight on 14 December in Atlantic City, while Jones will face Ruiz on 1 March, 2003 in Las Vegas. The deciding bout between the two fighters will take place later in 2003.
Filed by Greg McKevitt
