WASHINGTON, 20 July 2003 — World Boxing Association heavyweight champion Roy Jones is talking to Mike Tyson and Britain’s Lennox Lewis about a possible heavyweight title showdown, but no deals are set according to Jones’ attorney.
“We have spoken with Tyson and Lewis but nothing is in place at the moment,” Jacobs told AFP on Friday, adding that promoter Murad Muhammad had “researched some potential sites” for Jones’ next fight.
Reports of a Nov. 8 Jones fight in Nairobi, Kenya, appear to have been premature.
Last month, Jones appeared set for a title defense against fellow American and former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield.
But those talks broke down and Holyfield is now set to fight International Boxing Federation cruiserweight champion James Toney in an all-American show on October 4 in Las Vegas. Jones has not fought since March 1 when he beat John Ruiz for the WBA crown. The WBA has ordered Jones to make a mandatory defense by Sept. 1.
Earlier this month, Lewis mentioned Jones as a possible future foe but said he wants his next fight to be a rematch with Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko. Lewis beat Klitschko last month in Los Angeles when doctors halted the fight. Former undisputed champion Tyson has not fought since a first-round stoppage of fellow American Clifford Etienne in February. Since then he has been involved in a hotel lobby fight. He faces a court date over that incident as well as a lawsuit against promoter Don King and one against him by a psychiatrist demanding back pay.
