Akinwande Keeps Purse

Henry Akinwande will get to keep the $1 million he earned in his losing bid for the WBC heavyweight title against Lennox Lewis.

Nevada boxing officials voted Monday not to take any further disciplinary action against Akinwande, who was disqualified for repeated holding in the fifth round of the July 12 fight at Lake Tahoe.

Akinwande’s $1 million purse was withheld immediately after the fight pending possible additional penalties against Akinwande for holding Lewis throughout much of the fight.

Lennox Lewis could make his next defense of the WBC heavyweight title against Andrew Golota in Las Vegas on Oct. 4.

Golota was scheduled to fight American Ray Mercer on Aug. 16, but the fight was called off last week because of a neck injury to Mercer.

Home Box Office is interested in a Lewis-Golota match.

“HBO wants it and talks are going on,” Lewis’ manager, Frank Maloney, said Monday. “If the fight comes off it will give Lennox the chance to get the American recognition he deserves.”

It would be Lewis’s second defense of his title.