NEW YORK, March 25 (UPI) -- Heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson finally found a place and a time to fight with defending his WBC and IBF heavyweight titles against Tyson at The Pyramid in Memphis on June 8.
The fight originally was scheduled for April 6 in Las Vegas, but Tyson was denied a license by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. The hearing occurred on Jan. 29, one week after Tyson and Lewis brawled during a press conference in New York.
"Lewis-Tyson is the matchup the whole world has been waiting for," Lewis said. "I am confident I will cement my legacy when I dispose of Tyson on June 8."
Tyson (49-3, 43 KOs, 2 no-contests) had his license suspended after biting the ears of Evander Holyfield in their 1997 rematch, and again in 1999 when he hit Orlin Norris after the bell in a fight that resulted in a no-contest. Since then, Tyson has won all four of his fights, with three coming overseas.
In his most recent bout, the former undisputed champion registered a seventh-round technical knockout over Brian Nielsen, on Oct. 13 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
"On June 8, I guarantee I will knock Lewis out and regain my heavyweight championship," Tyson proclaimed.
A former undisputed heavyweight champion, Tyson suffered his first loss on Feb. 11, 1990 when he was knocked out in the 10th round by James "Buster" Douglas in one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. He has battled personal problems since and did not fight from 1992-95 as he served a prison sentence in Indiana for rape.
After he was denied by Nevada, Tyson applied for a license in several locales, including Washington, D.C. and Michigan.
"Memphis is elated to be the host city of this great sporting event," Mayor Willie Herenton said.
Lewis (39-2-1, 30 KOs) regained the WBC and IBF belts last November 17 when he knocked out Hasim Rahman in the fourth round at Las Vegas. Rahman registered a big upset last April 21 when he stopped Lewis in five rounds in Johannesburg, South Africa. The two also scuffled during a pre-fight interview that was televised on ESPN, although the rematch did not draw nearly the amount of interest and money that a bout with Tyson will.
Lewis has defeated Holyfield twice and his only other loss came against Oliver McCall in 1994. He avenged that defeat three years later.
The IBF granted Lewis an exception to fight Tyson before mandatory challenger Chris Byrd but set Monday as a deadline. Tyson is the No. 1 ranked contender by the WBC.
