Lewis set to face McCall for world title

Mike Tyson has given up his World Boxing Council heavyweight title - clearing the way for Britain's Lennox Lewis to regain the crown he lost two years ago.

The WBC declared the heavyweight title vacant and said they would be calling for purse offers for a title fight between Lewis and the American, Oliver McCall. Lewis's manager, Frank Maloney, is hoping to bring the fight to London in November - giving Lewis the chance to avenge the WBC title defeat he suffered to McCall inside two rounds at Wembley in September 1994.

Lewis's chance comes courtesy of Tyson's decision to take on Bruce Seldon for the World Boxing Association title before the official WBC challenger, Lewis. Tyson's promoter, Don King, had paid Lewis pounds 2.6m to step aside and agreed that Tyson's WBC belt would not be on the line against Seldon in their 7 September bout, which Tyson won in the first round.

Tyson is scheduled to defend his WBA title against the former undisputed champion, Evander Holyfield, on 9 November in Las Vegas. But, if Lewis beats McCall, Maloney believes a title bout with Tyson could still take place.