Lewis may never box in Britain again - Block

The chances of Lennox Lewis boxing on home soil again may have diminished as a result of his emphatic win over Mike Tyson.

That is the fear of British Boxing Board of Control general secretary Simon Block after Lewis dismantled Tyson in eight one-sided rounds at the Pyramid Arena in Memphis.

Lewis has expressed a desire to treat his loyal British fans to a last goodbye, even suggesting that he would like the bout to be televised by the BBC.

However, such was the manner of his win over Tyson, Block believes the American cable giants Home Box Office will look to keep Lewis under lock and key on the other side of the Atlantic.

The interest generated by the ‘Rumble on the River’ will surely send future pay-per-view sales soaring and it is unlikely the Las Vegas casinos will want to let Lewis slip through their grasp again.

‘‘We would love to see Lennox back in Britain, absolutely, but I don’t see it myself after that display,’’ said Block at ringside.

‘‘A clash with someone like Vladimir Klitschko might be better in Europe than America but obviously HBO will not be keen to let him sneak away.

‘‘We won’t give up hope that we might see Lennox back in Britain one more time, but obviously he is also at the further end of his career.’’

Not that Block would mind travelling to America again after the unmitigated success of this weekend’s show.

Many thought Memphis was a poor choice to stage such a superfight, but they were proved wrong in just as emphatic a manner as Lewis’ victory.

‘‘Obviously there were organisational difficulties, which we’ve all experienced,’’ added Block.

‘‘But the people of Memphis and the city of Memphis itself have extended us a very welcoming hand.

‘‘I think the city itself has made a lot of friends this weekend. I’ve been to some isolated European cities where a local hero is boxing and for a night it becomes a fight town.

‘‘But I’ve never ever seen a major city become a fight town in quite the same way as Memphis.

‘‘On the television, in the shops, in the streets, everywhere you go, people have been talking about

Tyson and Lewis. Fortunately they got a fight which merited it.’’