By Scott Shaffer Fightnews.com
Just three days after heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis filed suit in federal court, the proposed January 19 fight between Mike Tyson and Ray Mercer has been called off. A long-awaited fight between Lewis and Tyson now seems closer to reality than ever.
Showtime made the announcement accompanied by a statement attributed to Tyson that read, �this is a business and I'm sure Ray understands why I need to take Lennox out now! Lennox made me an offer that I could not refuse and it is time to give the people what they want. The heavyweight championship is my destiny and I need those belts on my waist again. So keep taking those acting lessons Lennox because your next role will be playing Cinderella and I am gonna break your little glass chin!�
There is still no deal in place for Tyson to challenge Lewis, but today�s announcement removes a major obstacle. Lewis is expected to defend the heavyweight championship against Tyson on April 6, 2002 in Las Vegas. Still to be negotiated between the Lewis and Tyson camps and their respective cable networks is how to split the fighters� purses and how the cable networks will divide the lucrative pay-per-view rights. Shelley Finkel insists that Tyson must receive a purse at least equal to Lewis�. �They will never get more than 50/50,� said Finkel.
Lewis� lawsuit against Tyson and the WBC is still pending, although the cancellation of the fight renders moot much of the relief that was being sought by Lewis. It is possible that the lawsuit could be withdrawn, but a representative from the Lewis legal team told Fightnews.com that no decision has been made yet. With Tyson-Mercer off, the only issue left to be decided in the suit is the percentage of the purse that each fighter would receive.
Earlier this week, a month-old WBC secret document surfaced that provided that Lewis would receive 55% of the purse and Tyson 45%. The document, a stipulation between attorneys for Tyson and the WBC, was issued in response to a request Finkel made to the WBC to guarantee Tyson�s right to challenge for the title.
However, because Tyson is the greater box office attraction, he is in a position to demand more than 25%. �We would walk away from the fight if a 75/25 split was enforced. The fight wouldn�t happen,� said Finkel earlier this afternoon.