Boxing: Holyfield vetoes Lewis fight because $25m is not enough

Evander Holyfield has pulled out of his proposed undisputed world heavyweight title fight against Britain's Lennox Lewis because he is unhappy with the purse on offer.

Don King, Holyfield's promoter, had reached a provisional agreement with representatives of Lewis, but the fight has been called off following a meeting between Jim Thomas, a lawyer representing the American fighter, and Seth Abraham and Lou Dibella, of the cable television company Home Box Office.

Thomas said: "We could not come to an agreement and nothing is scheduled. HBO were unwilling to provide sufficient guarantees to assure the fighters of appropriate purses.

"The deal on offer wouldn't have allowed Holyfield to make as much as he did for the recent contest against Michael Moorer. I tried as hard as I could to make this fight, but it was simply not possible."

The provisional agreement would have provided for purses of $25m (pounds 15.4m) for Holyfield and $12m for Lewis. However, King's cut would have come out of Holyfield's purse.

Holyfield, the World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation champion, may now defend the WBA title against Britain's Henry Akinwande or some of the younger heavyweight contenders.

Lewis, meanwhile, may now turn to a defence of his World Boxing Council title against either Shannon Briggs or the former undisputed world champion, James "Buster" Douglas, who is making a comeback.