Lewis: Rahman can't fight Tyson

Lennox Lewis said the re-match contract signed by him and Hasim Rahman does not allow the new champ to fight former undisputed world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. "He can't fight Tyson, that is in the re-match clause," Lewis said. This was disputed by Rahman's American-based South African promoter Cedric Kushner. "I believe his advisers have told him (Lewis) that. It is categorically incorrect. I'm going to tell him (Lewis) after this," Kushner said. He added that Rahman was entitled to an interim fight, with the winner fighting Lewis and that could be anyone, including Tyson. He also confirmed a local newspaper report on Monday that said he had received a phone call from Tyson's business manager Shelly Finkel minutes after the fight. He declined to comment on the details of the call. Rahman's manager was quoted on the BBC Web site on Monday as saying a fight between Rahman and Tyson before the Lewis re-match was doubtful.

LONDON – Hasim Rahman seems likely to make Lennox Lewis wait a year for a rematch, according to the new world heavyweight champion's minders.

"I believe we are going to look to have one voluntary defense. After that, if Lennox wants it, that's fine with us," Rahman's co-manager Stan Hoffman was quoted as saying on the BBC's Web site Monday.

Rahman upset Lewis with a fifth-round knockout in Johannesburg, South Africa on Sunday morning to snatch the WBC and IBF titles. A clause in the fight contract gives Lewis a rematch.

"The contract stipulates a rematch within five months. With the negotiations you need for a big promotion we can honor our promise, let's say, within a year. If Lennox wants to do it, he deserves it," he said.

Co-manager Steve Nelson said: "We want Rock (Rahman) to defend his title within three, maybe four months, then we can sit down and look at a rematch."

Hoffman virtually ruled out a fight with former champion Mike Tyson before the rematch with Lewis.

"I want Tyson to be the real big one, but I don't see how we can put that on in three months," he said.

Tyson is due to fight Nigerian David Izon in June.