Boxing: Lewis and Steward in new deal

LENNOX LEWIS and his trainer, Emanuel Steward, have struck a new deal, ending speculation that they were close to splitting over a financial hitch.

And they could be back in their training camp in about a month if a 12 December date is agreed for Lewis' next World Boxing Council heavyweight title defence, expected to be against America's Lou Savarese.

The partnership rebuilt Lewis from the dark days of his WBC title defeat by Oliver McCall in 1994 to his current position as champion and a fourth successful defence against the Croat Zeljko Mavrovic in Uncasville on Saturday.

But Savarese would be put on hold if a Lewis fight against the World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation champion, Evander Holyfield, is agreed for early 1999.

The possibility of a Holyfield bout emerged after the Lewis camp received an unexpected telephone call from Don King, which could get the highly sought-after match under way.