HBO officials confirmed that they have signed WBC
heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis to a seven-fight
extension, and that the deal "includes a proposed bout" with
WBA & IBF Champion Evander Holyfield to unify the titles,
according to Jeff Schultz of the ATLANTA CONSTITUTION.
Holyfield "would be guaranteed" $20M, "plus a possible
percentage" of the PPV buys for the fight, which would take
place on December 5 or 12. Lewis would make $8-12M. Lewis'
deal "ties him to HBO," and does not allow him or Holyfield
to shop the fight to Showtime. Holyfield's attorney, Jim
Thomas, said it was "extremely inappropriate and
counterproductive to negotiate through the media" before
entering into discussions. Thomas: "It feels like a ploy
rather than a serious negotiation. ... I don't know if
they're serious about anything." HBO exec Lou DiBella: "I
am puzzled Jim would be perturbed over an offer being made
to his client in the amount his client asked for. We know
Evander wants the fight. His business people are the issue"
(ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 7/2). Thomas called HBO's offer "a
press release," leading columnist Wallace Matthews to wonder
"if Holyfield really wants to fight Lewis, or if someone
else desperately wants him not to" (N.Y. POST, 7/2).
BOXING REFORM? The Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act was
introduced in DC by U.S. Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and
Richard Bryan (D-NV). The proposed legislation "seeks to
limit coercive option contracts and increases financial
disclosure requirements for promoters" (USA TODAY, 7/2).
