Boxing: Lewis-Holyfield return back on

ALL PARTIES have resumed working for a Lennox Lewis-Evander Holyfield heavyweight title re-match on 13 November, probably in Las Vegas. Only last week it looked as if the $30m (pounds 19.2m) fight was off, and that the American Michael Grant could instead be the next challenger for the World Boxing Council champion, Lewis.

However, the American cable network company Home Box Office have now withdrawn their threat of non co-operation with promoter Don King, and negotiations have reopened for the Lewis-Holyfield return following their controversial draw in March.

"Negotiations went well in New York. HBO and Don King have come to a compromise and hopefully the fight is back on," said Frank Maloney, Lewis's manager. "This fight has to happen for the sanity of boxing. If it doesn't happen, boxing has no credibility. Both fighters want it badly, and boxing needs it, end of issue. Politics will have to go out of the window with this one. Take the money out of it. If it doesn't happen the sport will never be the same again.

"As a manager I'm pleased it's going to happen, but more so as a boxing fan. We've now got a unified light-heavyweight champion in Roy Jones, we've got one of the best fights in history coming up in September - Oscar De La Hoya against Felix Trindad - and to follow on with the unification of the heavyweight championship, boxing will get the credibility it deserves."

Grant, at 6ft 7in and 250lb, outscored fellow countryman Lou Savarese at Madison Square Garden, New York, on Saturday, twice flooring his opponent in the 10th round, but opinion is that he is not yet ready for the WBC champion.

Maloney added: "I wasn't impressed with Grant. His body is too finely tuned. It looks like they took a piece of marble and chiselled out the perfect body but forgot to put in the mechanics to make it move perfectly."