Lewis and Tyson seek place to fight

Heavyweight world champion Lennox Lewis said he was prepared to fight Mike Tyson anywhere after Nevada refused the American a boxing licence and left the $150 million title fight and both boxers' futures in the balance.

"I'm optimistic about it (the fight going ahead). There's a lot of energy pushing the fight to happen," Lewis said at a news conference in London on Wednesday, hours after Tyson's application was rejected 4-1 by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

"Mike Tyson is the last notch on Lennox Lewis's belt, the icing on my cake and I'd love to sort it out," the World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation champion said.

"I realise I'm not getting any younger. My main aim for staying around is Mike Tyson...it'd be disappointing if the fight doesn't go ahead," Lewis said, adding that beating Tyson would seal his legacy.

Tuesday's decision leaves both fighters in a quandry as the career-defining fight, which ws to be the richest in boxing history, remains just beyond their grasp.

South Africa looked to be the most likely contender after promoter Rodney Berman told the BBC he would be interested in staging the bout.

Despite Lewis' insistence about his desire to fight he was ambivalent at the London conference, questioning Tyson's mental state and accusing the fighter of biting a chunk out of his leg at a news conference brawl in New York last week.

LICENCE DENIED

On Tuesday, the Commission voted to reject Tyson's bid for a licence at a hearing about Tyson's blighted career and the latest incident when Tyson triggered a brawl by throwing a punch at a Lewis bodyguard at a press conference designed to promote an April 6 fight in Las Vegas.

"I'm not Mother Teresa, but I'm not Charles Manson either," 35-year-old Tyson told the board before their decision. "Just treat me equally. I don't care if you've got to ban me for life. Just ban someone else for doing the same thing."

"My intentions were not to hurt anybody until I was struck (by Lewis' bodyguard)," Tyson added. "Then I struck back".

Two-time heavyweight champion Tyson left the three-hour hearing by a back entrance, telling reporters that he was not surprised by the commission's decision and that he participated only at his manager's insistence.

ALTERNATIVE VENUE

The Nevada decision opens the way for a search for an alternative venue for the bout, which the WBC has said it would sanction outside Nevada, however statements from the Lewis camp suggest that the fight might not go ahead at all.

"This guy has some mental sickness. He needs help, most definitely," Lewis said. "This guy took a chunk out of my leg. Who is going to protect me? Who is going to guarantee that Mike Tyson doesn't bite me in the ring?"

"I am consulting with my lawyers as to the legal consequences should I decide that I will not go forward with the bout," he added.

The British Boxing Board of Control told Reuters on Wednesday that it would consider an application from Tyson, the youngest ever world champion at age 20, but doubted whether one would be forthcoming.

The Danish Federation said on BBC Online it would not grant Tyson a licence despite Danish promoter Bettina Palle saying that the Tyson camp had enquired if she would be interested in hosting the bout.

TALK TO NETWORKS

Tyson, who has in the past been on medication to control his mood swings and volatile behaviour, was banned for a year after biting a chunk out of Evander Holyfield's ear in their world title bout in Las Vegas in 1997.

Despite concerns about Tyson's behaviour Lewis' manager Adrian Ogun said they would meet U.S. television networks and analyse the fight contract before deciding whether or not to face Tyson at another venue.

"Lennox and I are bound by this contract and we like to keep our word," Ogun said.

Lewis also cited other reasons to fight Tyson.

"I want to beat him and beat him badly," Lewis said. "My moral obligation is to go in and give him a whipping. I know the public wants to see it."

HORROR STORIES

Although most of the commissioners -- who are appointed by Nevada's governor -- said before the hearing they were keeping an open mind Tyson faced tough questions.

At one point Tyson told one of the board: "You don't know me. You don't know if I'm a victim or not. You don't know my horror stories."

The panel focused on Tyson's inability to control his emotions, but steered clear of a local woman's allegations of rape against him.

Las Vegas prosecutors are considering filing rape charges against Tyson, who was convicted in 1992 of raping a Miss Black America contestant.