"I will get on to the playing field and I'll definitely be vying to bring the fight to South Africa. We'll make a meaningful bid," Berman told Reuters.

Berman promoted the 2001 bout in South Africa between Lewis and Hasim Rahman, won unexpectedly by the American underdog. Lewis avenged the defeat six months later in Las Vegas.

Lewis, 37, was to defend the World Boxing Council title against Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko in April but a spokeswoman for the Briton's promoters said last week he would return to the ring on June 21 depending on the result of the Mike Tyson-Clifford Etienne bout this month.

Klitschko's Germany-based management company, Universum Box-Promotion, have asked their lawyers to urge the WBC to ensure Klitschko can challenge Lewis before the beginning of June.

"This fight will have much less appeal than the first fight but in South Africa it would still be a huge box office draw," Berman said. "Seeing Mike Tyson is still an experience. He has an aura about him."

Lewis convincingly defeated the former undisputed world champion over eight rounds last June.