Lewis awaits Easter date

The heavyweight pairing between Lennox Lewis and Riddick Bowe is on schedule for Easter Saturday, 6 April. With the major titles tied up for the foreseeable months, Lewis-Bowe is just about the biggest heavyweight prospect of present times. In addition, Bowe is still the World Boxing Organisation champion.

Lewis' promoter, Panos Eliades, believes the contract could be finalised by the end of next week. Eliades initially intended to offer Bowe's manager, Rock Newman, a pounds 6m guarantee, but a new financial format is now being pursued. This will effectively put all the cash into a pot, from which Lewis and Bowe will take an agreed percentage.

The venue has still to be decided, with Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, South Africa and Kenya possible venues for a bout which has been waiting to happen ever since Lewis beat Bowe in the 1988 Seoul Olympics super- heavyweight final.