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February 7, 2002 - Mexico City "I would like to clarify a statement published by some news agencies that said that the WBC would prevent a fight between Lennox Lewis and Chris Byrd, which is not accurate. "Mike Tyson sued the World Boxing Council in 2001 so that the WBC would not sanction any title defense made by Lewis if such defense was not against Tyson himself. This process was suspended when a Federal Court in New York decided in favor of the rematch between Hasim Rahman and Lennox Lewis. Such lawsuit was then modified in order to bind the winner to fight Tyson. "Lennox Lewis, on his part, sued the WBC after regaining his title, so that the WBC would disavow Mike Tyson if he made any bout against any other but Lennox Lewis. "Besides all the foregoing, the WBC had voted in favor of appointing Mike Tyson as the No. 1 ranked official challenger to the heavyweight title during the conventions in Mexico City in 2000 and Pattaya in 2001. "Consequently, due to legal impediment and following the expressed wishes and lawsuits by both boxers, and also for what was stipulated by the WBC Rules and the WBC Board of Governors, the WBC is impeded to approve any other heavyweight title fight unless there is a previous agreement between both parties. "Therefore, the WBC is not against Lennox Lewis defending the title against Chris Byrd or any other boxer. The WBC is simply impeded to sanction such bout unless an agreement is reached with Mike Tyson, or if Tyson was prevented from fighting for reasons outside boxing." • Privacy Policy • Copyright • Contact • Webmaster • Advertise • ©2001 Diamond Gloves Boxing. All Rights Reserved www.DiamondGloves.com™ |
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