By David Field, PA Sport Boxing Correspondent
Lennox Lewis was dethroned as WBA king without so much as taking or throwing a punch.
And now his handlers are making moves to try to prevent other contenders fighting for the vacant title.
After a New York judge stripped Lewis of the belt, it would appear that the Evander Holyfield-John Ruiz fight in June will count for the WBA championship.
Lewis' promoter Panos Eliades said: "We're trying to get an order to prevent anybody else fighting for the belt until an appeal is heard.
"If they (Holyfield-Ruiz) fight for that title and Lewis wins the appeal, who's got the belt?
"We are trying to expedite the matter, but the paperwork will not be in before Lewis makes his next defence."
That is against America's Michael Grant for the WBC and IBF titles at Madison Square Garden on April 29.
Eliades added: "We don't expect a decision until a long way down the line, we are talking about months, not weeks."
It took Lewis seven years to unify the titles with his points victory over Holyfield in Las Vegas in November, the re-match which followed the controversial draw in New York eight months earlier.
Yet, after 146 days, the big fight politics have had their way and the heavyweight title is once again split.
Lewis is virtually certain to fight South Africa's Frans Botha at the London Arena - the 'hot' venue says Eliades - on July 15, if Grant is overcome. That would be Lewis' first appearance in Britain since losing the WBC crown to Oliver McCall at Wembley Arena in September, 1994.
Then the time will be approaching for Lewis to defend the IBF title against leading contender David Tua.
Eliades will have to start negotiations for the Tua fight from August 1, then will come the WBC mandatory, making it difficult for Lewis to fit in a meeting with Mike Tyson - if it can be set up.
With the title now split, perhaps Tyson might see the way ahead being a third fight with Holyfield if he beats Ruiz. It would certainly have huge appeal for American audiences.
Meanwhile, Lewis must concentrate on the Grant fight and manager Frank Maloney said: "He's prepared himself mentally and now he's got to pick himself up again.
"In the 10 years to unify the belts, he's had a lot of ups and downs. The WBA title was won in the ring and unfortunately it has been taken away from him in a court room."
� PA Sporting Life