Lennox Lewis looks increasingly like the odd man out on the heavyweight boxing scene as the future plans for new world champion Hasim Rahman unfold.
The 28-year-old American, who took the WBC and IBF titles from Lewis with a fifth-round knockout last month in Johannesburg, will now fight Denmark's Brian Nielsen in Beijing this August in his first title defence.
Don King, who signed Rahman last week, has confirmed the bout with Nielsen on August 4th, with WBA champion John Ruiz and former champion Evander Holyfield topping the bill at the same venue.
Rahman is set to get five million dollars for fighting Nielsen and King has promised Rahman $15 million for a unification fight against the winner of Ruiz-Holyfield, $20 million to fight Lewis and $30 million to face Tyson.
Lewis, who has filed a lawsuit in the hope of making Rahman stick to a re-match clause in his contract, knows the only real path to reclaiming his crowns is a court victory.
But Lewis's manager Frank Maloney told Sky Sports.com TV: "It's called being outmanoeuvred. That's what's happening at the moment but hopefully we can move the jigsaw pieces around and get back into a strong position."
Lawsuits could destroy King's well-laid plans which began last Friday with an early-morning deal with Rahman sealed by $500,000 in 100-dollar bills and a cheque for $4.5 million to complete the signing bonus.
King was the unexpected winner after HBO and Showtime escalated a bidding war for Rahman's rights with Cedric Kushner, thought to be Rahman's promoter.
But Rahman said Kushner failed to pay him $75,000 dollars required to retain his rights before the Lewis fight, making him a free agent available to sign with King. Kushner has promised to take the matter to court.
He might have to stand in line. Lewis's lawsuit claims a rematch clause in the contract with Rahman must stand and give him the first chance to fight for the IBF and WBC crowns.
AFP