Boxing Lewis urged to get it on with Tyson

Lennox Lewis has been urged to ditch the attitude and concentrate on preparations for his clash with Mike Tyson.

The richest fight in boxing history has once again become a viable proposition after Tyson was granted a licence to box in Georgia.

Tyson's former promoter Frank Warren has warned that the ball is now firmly in Lewis' court.

Previous attempts to stage the WBC and IBF title showdown in Las Vegas on April 6 were scuppered by the Nevada State Athletic Commission's decision to deny Tyson a licence.

That ruling came after the now infamous fracas between 'Iron Mike' and Lewis at a New York press conference to promote their proposed clash.

But a new date of June 8 has entered the equation, with Atlanta's Georgia Dome a possible venue.

Reports after the New York altercation, fuelled by rumours he demanded a fee to give evidence at Tyson's hearing in Nevada, indicated Lewis was keen on backing out of the fight,

Lewis alleged Tyson had bitten him in the brawl - taking "a significant piece of flesh" out of his leg - and claimed he would only fight him if the American received psychological help.

But Warren said: "Lewis and Tyson have both signed a contract.

"If Lewis wants to get out of the fight, the only way is if Lewis breaks the contract and if he is found to have done that illegally, Tyson could sue for damages."

Georgia Boxing Commission administrator Tom Mishou explained to how Tyson came to be granted a 10 US Dollar licence.

He said: "Shelly Finkel, Mr Tyson's manager, contacted my office, he asked if I would send him a licence application that he could get Mr Tyson to fill out.

"I said sure. I sent it to him, Mr Tyson filled it out, they sent me the required medicals, they sent me the money, we issued the licence."

And former British heavyweight champion Julius Francis, who once fought Tyson, agreed with the GBC's decision to grant a licence.

"It was only right that Tyson should a get boxing licence," he said.

"There were two guys there, Tyson walked across stage, it was Lennox Lewis' bodyguard who pushed Tyson and set the man off."

With Tyson aged 35 and Lewis 36, this summer looks to offer a last chance for both to hit the jackpot.

The pair were expected to share a purse in the region of £70m if the fight had gone ahead in Vegas, but the signs are that Atlanta can also offer the required windfall.

Mishou added: "I have been told by the Georgia Dome that a site fee of 13 million US dollars has been put up and a date of June 8 has been pencilled in."

The fight would be sure to attract a huge number of travelling fans from Britain and Finkel said: "The Georgia Dome has a lot of things going for it.

"There are a lot of direct flights from England to Atlanta. It's a place we're considering for the fight."

Lewis' former manger Frank Maloney believes the authorities in Georgia agreed to give Tyson a licence to fight in order to put that state on the boxing map.

"It's obviously a question of money," Maloney said.

"Georgia is unknown for boxing, there have not been many big fights there except for one Evander Holyfield fight."

Maloney revealed Tyson would be allowed to fight in Georgia because the sport was not regulated by a national body like in Britain, but by each state.

"It's not one governing body like the British Boxing Board of Control," he added.