Maloney rejects Bruno rematch

Boxing

Lennox Lewis's manager yesterday ruled out a rematch with Frank Bruno. Frank Maloney said: "Bruno has had his chance. I would say for Lennox Lewis to consider fighting Frank Bruno is a backward step."

Panos Eliades, Lewis's financial backer, was reported to have been considering Bruno as a future opponent for Lewis. But Maloney said: "Unless the money is so good that he could not refuse it, I can't see him wanting to take that fight again, knowing how it ended last time and seeing the performance Bruno put up at the weekend. Bruno has nowhere to go now in the heavyweight division."

Bruno, who was stopped by Lewis in the seventh round of their fight in Cardiff in 1993, has been urged to quit in the wake of his defeat by Mike Tyson on Sunday. However, he is said to be undecided about his future.

"My dream has always been to retire in front of a home crowd - a winner rather than a loser," he was reported as saying yesterday. "There are many things to consider. But any report that I have quit is pure fiction. I have no concrete plans."

Bruno said that Don King, the American promoter, had offered to set up another world heavyweight title fight for him. "King's offer is a serious one and I will be giving it a lot of thought. It would be one of the other versions of the title," Bruno said.

An American judge has ordered Tyson to let Lewis make the next challenge for the World Council heavyweight title, and Tyson has talked of his desire to fight in Britain, which he has described as "my second home".

Lewis said: "I hope Mike is going to honour the judge's decision. If he tries to run away, it can only mean he is scared."

Meanwhile, Bruno has been offered an immediate chance to fight for a title - by Scott Welch, the British heavyweight champion. Welch, who defeated Joe Bugner in six rounds at the weekend, said: "I am handing Frank a marvellous opportunity to say goodbye to his army of fans by having a shot at my title.

"It will be his chance to bow out on home turf, although it won't be as a winner. I have sparred with Frank in the past and know I would do a similar job on him to the one Tyson did."