Holyfield, Lewis Go Separate Ways It’s Looking More Like Douglas Or Briggs Will Be Next For Lewis

Lennox Lewis never really expected the heavyweight unification fight against Evander Holyfield to come off.

“As I said, I would never believe it was on until I saw Holyfield coming out of the other corner,” Lewis said.

“It’s the boxing business for you and I never built up my hopes on the fight happening.”

The bout seemed set Monday, then fell apart in a snag over money the next day. Now Lewis is looking elsewhere, mentioning former champion Buster Douglas and Shannon Briggs as possible opponents.

Plans for an April 25 fight in Las Vegas between Lewis, the WBC champ, and Holyfield, the WBA and IBF champ, had been on the fast track for the last month. On Monday, Lewis’ promoter said a $50 million deal was struck. Almost immediately, however, the deal evaporated.

At issue was the number of guaranteed pay-per-view buys. HBO Sports, which has a contract with Lewis, refused to guarantee more than 650,000. The fight would need to generate 1 million buys to produce the $20 million purse Holyfield wants for the fight. He received $20 million for his last defense against Michael Moorer in November.

“There’s more chance of Father Christmas appearing down my chimney than that fight happening,” said Lewis’ manager, Frank Maloney.

“Our contract is signed so we are happy. It’s up to the other side to negotiate with Holyfield, and for Don King to try to lower his financial demands.”

King denied asking for any guaranteed fee for himself.

Thursday, King could not be reached at his Ohio home or at his Florida office. Lewis would fight either man March 28, probably in Atlantic City, N.J. Holyfield’s next fight probably will be a mandatory defense against Henry Akinwande or Vaughn Bean.