Tyson the $160m alternative for Lewis

Lennox Lewis may have the spectacular option of two fights with Mike Tyson and a shared purse of around $160m (£117m) if he loses his battle in a New York courtroom for a rematch with the world heavyweight champion, Hasim Rahman.

Lewis's business manager, Adrian Ogun, made the claim yesterday before giving evidence in the Federal court in the case, in which the former champion is pressing for a re-match with Rahman, a clause for which he claims was written into the contract for their fight in Johannesburg in April, which Rahman won with a sensational knockout punch in the fourth round.

Lewis has maintained that his prime interest is in winning back the World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation titles he lost in South Africa, but the lure of the Tyson fights is bound to provoke in him a re-appraisal of an extremely tangled situation.

Lewis was seen the other day in deep conversation with Don King, who is also being sued by Rahman's rejected promoter Cedric Kushner in the same courtroom, and it could be that a deal between Lewis and King would provide an opportunity to fight Rahman before taking on Tyson. In exchange for delivering the title opportunity, King would naturally get a share of the Lewis-Tyson rewards. According to Ogun, though, the Lewis-Tyson fights will happen whatever the results of the court case.

Ogun's statement yesterday said: "Regardless of the outcome of the court drama in New York for a Lewis rematch with WBC champion Hasim Rahman, HBO (Lewis's network) and Showtime (Tyson's network) have agreed a historical deal to screen Lewis versus Tyson I and a rematch.

"This is the best outcome for Lennox. He is guaranteed two historical fights with Mike Tyson, regardless of whether he wins his court case against Don King for a rematch with Hasim Rahman. Lewis v Tyson I and II will be the highest grossing fights in the history of boxing, with Mike and Lennox sharing over $160m between them."

Ogun's office said that he had been "locked" in talks with Shelly Finkel and other other members of Tyson's team all weekend. It was also claimed that HBO and Showtime reached agreement on Sunday to share a pay per view and delayed broadcast of both Lewis and Tyson I and II. The first fight is said to be scheduled for 8 December this year.

No confirmation of the deal was forthcoming at either of the TV companies yesterday. Kerry Davis, the chief negotiator of HBO, was in "important meetings", and Jay Larkin, Showtime's chief executive, was due to give evidence in the federal courtroom. What is clear, though, is that the financial weight of Lewis-Tyson has become increasingly compelling to both companies. Earlier this year, Larkin was at pains to point out that his company had made a series of "compromise" offers to their fierce rivals HBO.

"We have done all we can to make a deal with HBO, and we are prepared to negotiate any possibility that would get the fight on," Larkin said. "Obviously, it is the biggest fight out there and we have tried everything to make it happen. The ball is in HBO's court."

Now Ogun is running with it with great enthusiasm, but in the past some of his statements have been marked with more than a touch of optimism. However, the uncertainties created by Lewis's defeat may have concentrated the minds of all negotiators, including HBO's. Boxing has never been known to reject big, easy money and that is what Lewis-Tyson increasingly represents as the lawyers rack up their charges in the New York courtroom.