Boxing: Lewis may face Holyfield in spring

LENNOX LEWIS could last night see light at the end of a long tunnel with the news that Don King is flying into London next week for talks with his promoter, Panos Eliades, and manager, Frank Maloney. The visit from King could prompt some long-awaited progress in the bid to match Lewis, the World Boxing Council heavyweight champion, with the World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation title holder, Evander Holyfield, in a lucrative unification bout next March or April.

"Everybody is talking. That's the main thing," Maloney said yesterday. "Don [King] is quite happy to put the fight on, but obviously the financial terms have to be met."

King is also poised to offer a deal whereby Maloney would handle the American promoter's boxing interests in Britain. "Don does not see the deal being in conflict with my management of Lennox, or any of my fighters," Maloney added.

"He believes I've done a good job with Lewis. Maybe our relationship will bring a unification with Holyfield nearer."

King has offered Maloney a package, believed to be around pounds 250,000 a year, which he will discuss with his lawyers and Lewis. Maloney would have the brief of finding a new "superstar" in Britain, and the London manager pushed the claims of his European featherweight champion, Paul Ingle, during a recent meeting with King in Florida.

Maloney continued: "The terms King offered me were very good and also very good for British boxing. He is willing to make a big investment into the sport in this country... and he's very keen on Ingle."