King cleared for round two in Lewis libel action

Boxing promoter Don King today fought off a bid by heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis to throw his libel action out of court.

High Court judge Mr Justice Eady turned down an application by Lewis that Britain was not the right place to hear the case and it should be heard in King’s home, the US.

In a statement issued after the hearing in London, King said he launched his action against Lewis, his promotion company Lion Promotions, and lawyer Judd Burstein in October last year.

Mr Burstein is the lawyer representing Lewis in his multi-million pound action against Don King in New York in which the boxer claims the promoter was instrumental in stopping his rematch with Mike Tyson.

King’s libel allegations centre on interviews with Burstein on two boxing websites in which the lawyer says King was anti-Semitic to describe him as a “shyster”.

The promoter is seeking an apology, unlimited damages and an order stopping him the allegations being repeated.

Mr Justice Eady today ruled it was a case which could be heard in the UK and will give his reasons later.

The hearing, before a jury, is expected