Boxing: Arbitrator rules Lewis must meet Jackson: Britain's WBC heavyweight champion is favoured in choice of title challenger as two of his rivals face loss of licences if street punch-up is repeated

THE IDENTITY of the next challenger for Lennox Lewis's World Boxing Council title has been finalised following a ruling last weekend by an arbitrator who selected Phil Jackson, the man Lewis had been hoping to face. Lewis will fight Jackson on 6 or 7 May at a venue to be decided - probably Reno, Nevada, or Atlantic City.

The arbitration had been necessary as the WBC had wanted Lewis to fight Oliver McCall, the top-ranked contender. Lewis had favoured facing Jackson, the fourth-ranked contender. The arbitrator sanctioned the Lewis-Jackson bout, with the winner automatically meeting McCall. The ruling, though, was not completely in Lewis's favour as he hoped then to have a unified title fight against Evander Holyfield, the World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation champion.

Instead, Holyfield will defend his titles on 22 April against Michael Moorer, the top IBF and WBA challenger. The IBF and WBA would not let Moorer step aside again, having let him do so for the Riddick Bowe fight last November when Holyfield regained two versions of the heavyweight title. Bowe, who pulled out of a fight on Saturday through injury, has not had his next opponent finalised.