Boxing: Bowe signs lucrative TV deal

RIDDICK BOWE, the world heavyweight champion, yesterday signed a six-fight television deal which could earn him more than dollars 100m ( pounds 66m). Specific terms were not divulged and prospective opponents have yet to be named.

Bowe agreed to the 'flexible' contract that will probably break down into two fights live on HBO cable TV and four on TVKO pay- per-view, Seth Abraham, the president of Time Warner Sports, said.

Abraham said HBO will make efforts to include a contest between Bowe and Britain's Lennox Lewis in the series. 'We're pragmatic,' Abraham said. 'Our best strategy is to get both of them under contract and then urge that they fight as soon as possible.'

Abraham masterminded an eight-fight contract for HBO with Mike Tyson in 1987 which was worth dollars 27m.

Derek Angol could be banned from fighting in France because of a positive drugs test after his European cruiserweight championship bout with Akim Tafer in Epernay on 22 October. Bernard Restout, president of the French federation, confirmed that traces of Phenylpropanolamine, a stimulant, had been found in the British boxer's urine.

Angol will appear before the British Boxing Board of Control at their next meeting on 13 January to explain his positive test.