Sport in Short: Boxing

LENNOX LEWIS could still be the first challenger to the world heavyweight champion, Riddick Bowe, because he is prepared to accept dollars 3m ( pounds 1.9m) to meet the man he beat in the 1988 Olympic final. But Lewis's manager, Frank Maloney, who produced a cockerel at a news conference yesterday to depict Bowe as a 'chicken', said: 'The offer is an absolute insult, but Lennox is adamant and at the end of the day if he insists we shall have to go into fourth gear. I have told Lennox not to accept it. This fight is worth dollars 30m, so how can he accept dollars 3m?' Meanwhile, Evander Holyfield, who surrendered his title to Bowe three weeks ago, has confirmed his retirement.

NIGEL BENN could be fined by the promoter, Barry Hearn, after failing to attend yesterday's news conference for his defence of the World Boxing Council super-middleweight title against Nicky Piper at Alexandra Palace on Saturday.