BBC SPORT | BOXING | Lewis says Tyson 'needs help'

Lennox Lewis has admitted his April fight with Mike Tyson is in doubt and urged the former champion to get help before climbing back into the ring.

Lewis told American chat show host Larry King he thought the fight unlikely unless Tyson could prove he would not resort to "savage" tactics.

"Right now April 6 doesn't look too good," Lewis said on CNN's Larry King Live.

"We have to realise that Mike Tyson needs some help, and he should get the proper help first before he thinks about getting in the ring.

I don't want to go into the ring with Mike Tyson if it is not a boxing match

Lennox Lewis

"We don't want to step into the ring and all of a sudden it turns into some savage sport. That's not what I went into the sport for.

"I went into it for the sweet science."

Tyson's inability to persuade the Nevada State Athletic Commission to award him a Las Vegas licence may have scuppered any chance of the fight.

Tyson may now appeal to the California State Athletic Commission to try to hold the fight in Los Angeles.

The California commission's next meeting is scheduled for 9 February.

But Lewis is now reviewing his options, including turning down a fight against Tyson, even if it could be arranged.

Tyson and Lewis could earn $20m each for the fight

"I don't want to go into the ring with Mike Tyson if it is not a boxing match," said Lewis.

"If it is just a savage sport where he is trying to bite me it doesn't make sense."

But Lewis, who intends to make a statement next week regarding his future plans, is keen to continue his career.

"There will always be a challenge out there because if you're in the number one position there are people trying to knock you down," he said.

"There are different sanctioning bodies with their champions whom they want to go in with the heavyweight champion of the world so I'm looking at those guys who are out there right now."

There is every chance the Tyson saga will run and run.

If it does not, the likelihood is that Lewis will keep his 6 April date but fight the IBF's leading contender Chris Byrd.

Other big fights that remain are those against the Ukrainian Klitschko brothers, Vitali and WBO champion Vladimir.


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