BOXING: Lennox Lewis' big-money world heavyweight title fight against Mike Tyson passed another hurdle last night as Chris Byrd lost his challenge to the bout.

Byrd had appealed to the International Boxing Federation to prevent the fight going ahead, claiming, as the IBF's number one contender, Lewis should meet him first.

He appealed to the tribunal, urging them to strip Lewis of his IBF title for agreeing to fight Tyson.

But the three-hour hearing ended with the tribunal confirming an earlier IBF executive committee decision to sanction the June 8th fight in Memphis.

The winner of the June 8th bout will negotiate to fight Byrd next and the American fighter is allowed to have a tune-up bout because of the delay.

Should no deal be made for Byrd to face the winner of the Lewis-Tyson bout, a purse bid will be set for August 8th for a title fight between Byrd and the champion.

Fighters would have 10 days to accept or reject terms of the bid winner.

Lewis is 39-2 with one draw and 30 knockouts. Ex-champion Tyson is 49-3 with 43 knockouts. Byrd is 34-2 with 19 knockouts.